THE HISTORY OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL INDIANA, INC.

Origin of Goodwill Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston's South End by the Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister. The Rev. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the poor and immigrants to repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not a hand out" was born.

The organization, formally incorporated in 1910 and housed in Boston's
Morgan Memorial Chapel, became known as Morgan Memorial Cooperative
Industries and Stores, Inc. It provided job skills, training programs and
even a rudimentary placement service. The name "Goodwill Industries"
was later adopted after a Brooklyn, N.Y., workshop coined the phrase.

Goodwill celebrates 75 years!

In 2005, Goodwill celebrated 75 years of helping people find jobs.
Click here to view a special publication in the Indianapolis Star
highlighting significant historical events at Goodwill.

Goodwill Comes to Indianapolis In 1930, the Great Depression had disrupted many lives in Indianapolis. From a basement community center, the Fletcher Place Methodist Church offered a variety of programs such as a kindergarten, clubs and medical clinics. But what neighborhood residents needed most were jobs. The Rev. Albert Spaulding traveled to Boston to learn about Goodwill Industries. Upon his return, he established a Goodwill program.

Significant Events of Goodwill's History

1934 – Reverend Howard Lytle came to Indianapolis and became the first chief executive officer of the local Goodwill. In the 35 years of his leadership, he brought Goodwill out of a basement and into the forefront. He became a leader in the field of vocational rehabilitation nationally as well as locally.

1937 – Goodwill Industries of Indianapolis was incorporated in the state of Indiana.

1945 – Dr. Maurine Miller became the first clinical psychologist on the staff at Goodwill.

1949/1950 – The Goodwill Service Guild was founded to support Goodwill’s service to the community.

1950s – Goodwill expanded its industrial work base and began doing subcontract jobs for local businesses.

1960 – Goodwill Industries moved to its current headquarters building at 1635 W. Michigan St.

1969 – Alan M. McNeil became the second chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Goodwill. The Indianapolis Goodwill was the first Goodwill in the United States and the first organization in Indiana to become accredited by CARF – the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. We continue to be accredited.

1971 – The Goodwill Industries Foundation of Central Indiana, Inc., was established to support Goodwill Industries, aid in establishing and expanding vocational development programs in central Indiana and award scholarships to promising students interested in careers related to Goodwill’s work.

1974 – James M. McClelland became the third chief executive officer of Goodwill. The organization was re-incorporated as Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Inc. to better reflect its regional focus. Indianapolis became the first Goodwill in the country to manufacture a commodity under the provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act.

1976 – Goodwill started cutting and selling wiping cloths as a temporary response to a collapse of the textile salvage market.

1986 – Donated goods were decentralized, and Goodwill ceased all repair/refurbishing operations.

1986 – Goodwill landed a service contract under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act.

1990 – Goodwill developed FutureWorks, the first welfare-to-work program in the state.

1995 – The organization opened neighborhood-based offices in Indianapolis’s inner city neighborhoods to make workforce preparation and job placement more accessible to residents.

1996 – A bond issue fueled continued growth of retail operations.

1996 – Goodwill launched the first of an ongoing, very successful television advertising campaign featuring the “Goodwill Guy.”

1996 – The organization began operating the Marion County iNET Centers as part of a consortium made up of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana and the Indiana Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. The Marion County Office of Family and Children was later added to the consortium referred to as WorkOne. Goodwill operated the centers for 10 years.

1997 – Goodwill started an auto donation program.

2000 – Because of its ready access to a wide variety of individuals, Goodwill administered HELP 2001, a heating assistance program for low income residents funded by the Lilly Endowment

2004 – Goodwill opens the Goodwill Youth Learning Center at its corporate office, 1635 W. Michigan St., to assist young people 16-21 who need educational and employment services.

2005 – Goodwill opens its first Goodwill Outlet Store, where clothing, housewares, glassware and toys are sold by the pound.

2006 – Goodwill launches Goodwill Staffing Solutions, a full-service employment agency that provides high-quality, pre-screened employees for businesses in 29 counties in central Indiana.

2006 – Goodwill's Commercial Services moves to a new 80,000-square-foot facility that includes more than 30,000 square feet of high-clearance storage. Another 30,000 square feet of space is available for future expansion.

2007 – Indianapolis Metropolitan High School begins its fourth academic year with 320 students enrolled in all four grades.

Goodwill Industries Today
Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana is one of the largest of the 183 Goodwill organizations worldwide and employs more than 2,100 people. Revenues, which are primarily from the sale of products and services, totaled approximately $74.5 million in 2008.