FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 

Contact: Brenna Brelie
Marketing Communications Generalist
Direct: (651) 379-5818
bbrelie@goodwilleasterseals.org

Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota Celebrates Another Year of Transforming Families and Communities Through the Power of Work.

St. Paul, MN., April 14, 2010 — Joe Powell was unemployed, reliant on Social Security disability benefits and struggling with substance abuse.  Today, he has a full-time job with benefits, has transitioned off Social Security and has his own apartment. He even has plans to own his own business one day.  Powell is just one of the over 800 people helped by Goodwill/Easter Seals’ employment services in the past year and has been named one of Goodwill/Easter Seals’ Participants of the Year.

On May 11, Goodwill/Easter Seals supporters, participants and staff will gather to celebrate the incredible Power of Work to transform lives and communities.  Powell and two other program Participants of the Year will be honored at the event which takes place at the Nicollet Island Pavilion on Tuesday, May 11 from 6 -9pm. The event will be hosted by Rena Sarigianopoulos , KARE 11 weekend anchor and reporter and features keynote speaker, Marnita Schroedl founder of Marnita’s Table.

Also recognized at the event are the Goodwill/Easter Seals Partners of the Year. Partnership and support from these community organizations and businesses ensures that Goodwill/Easter Seals is able to provide the highest quality employment and training services to its participants each year.  Honored this year will be: Municipal Athletic Complex- Greater Minnesota Employer of the Year, Jiffy Lube- Metro Area Employer of the Year, Workforce Solutions- Public Partner of the Year, Episcopal Community Services- Nonprofit Partner of the Year, Oppenheimer- Business Partner of the Year, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services- Business Partner of the Year.

The public is invited to meet the honorees and hear more about their success at the annual Power of Work Celebration on May, 11, 2010 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis.  Tickets are $35 and are on sale now at www.goodwilleasterseals.org. Seals Minnesota provides family strengthening, education, workforce development and employment services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. In the past year, approximately 15,000 individuals received over 31,000 services, including job skills training (automotive, banking/finance, construction and retail), job placement and free medical equipment loans. Revenues from its 20 retail stores, along with other contributions, support these services at 48 sites in Minnesota.

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