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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Gulfstream Goodwill Industries’ highly-anticipated 50^th Anniversary Gala will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 7 p.m. in the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center. The gala will include a cocktail reception, live entertainment and a sit-down dinner to celebrate the non-profit’s 50 years of providing opportunity, purpose and hope to our community.

 

The organization’s numerous programs and services, supported by its built-in fundraising mechanism -- the retail thrift stores and donation centers -- help people reach their highest levels of personal and economic independence.

 

Jim Gibbons

The gala will be keynoted by Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, which was recently named the #1 brand doing the most good by the Brand World Value Index. Gibbons is a graduate of Purdue University (Indiana, United States) and Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (Cambridge, Massachusetts), where he was the first person who is blind to graduate with a master’s in business administration.

 

Gibbons is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. He recently served as a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions appointed by U.S. President Obama, which focused on social innovation and civic engagement.

 

The night will begin with a cocktail hour and a trip down “Memory Lane” -- a photo exhibit of archival images from the 1960s through today. Guests will explore the history of Gulfstream Goodwill through these images, as well as a video presentation of some recent individuals whose lives have been uplifted by the non-profit.

 

Don Chester

Don Chester, assistant administrator for community and government relations at St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children's Hospital, will be a guest speaker at the event. Chester, who has worked at St. Mary’s since 1973, has been chairman of the board at eight local volunteer organizations, and currently serves on the boards of the Florida Rehabilitation Council, Palm Beach County Medical Society Services, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, West Palm Beach Police Foundation and is an honorary life member of the Komen Foundation. Chester is a graduate of the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 1986.

 

Formally an avid triathlete, Chester was critically injured while on a training run in 2004 and returned to work at St. Mary's Medical Center in 2005 with his service dog, Pollyanna.

 

“Gulfstream Goodwill Industries was an invaluable resource during my rehabilitation,” said Chester. “They understood the needs I had as a person with disabilities who was determined to go back to work. They were instrumental in providing guidance and resources during what was a very challenging time.”

 

Chester is dedicated to mentoring those who are newly injured so they can believe in the small victories that will lead to large victories in their future.

 

The gala celebrates Gulfstream Goodwill’s work to strengthen our community by integrating people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Nowhere will you see so many people of compassion and a passion to help others in one place.

 

Among those making remarks at the event is Gulfstream Goodwill Industries Board Chairperson Denise McDonald, RN, CLNC. McDonald has served on the board since 2012 and also chairs the board’s marketing and development committee. As a career nurse and mother of a child with special needs, McDonald is intimately familiar with and supportive of the population served by Gulfstream Goodwill.

 

“Gulfstream Goodwill Industries’ charter school provided my son the skills needed to become a more independent, self-sufficient and contributing member of his community,” said McDonald. “As Gulfstream Goodwill’s board chair, I am able to give back and see first-hand how donating stuff really does allow our many participants to receive life empowering services regardless of disability, education or poverty level.”

 

Denise McDonald

After dinner, guests will enjoy a sweet treat and dance the night away. Guests will be inspired onto the dance floor by a live band playing classic tunes to get them moving.

 

“A 50-year anniversary is cause to celebrate. However, 50 years assisting more than a hundred thousand persons to achieve personal and financial independence by becoming employed, providing for themselves and their families, now that’s a celebration!” said Marvin Tanck, Gulfstream Goodwill’s president and CEO who recently celebrated 42 years of service with the Goodwill family, 26 of which have been with Gulfstream Goodwill. Tanck will share his reflections on the organization to which he has dedicated such a large part of his life.

 

Marvin A. Tanck

Gulfstream Goodwill’s Deaf Services staff will provide interpretation services for the Deaf and hard of hearing in attendance.

 

For more information, visit gulfstreamgoodwill.org/50th-gala.

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About Gulfstream Goodwill Industries:

For 50 years, Gulfstream Goodwill Industries has been a leading non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to become self-sufficient, working members of our community. We provide more than two dozen health, human and social service programs for individuals in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties.