Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida was Awarded $50,000 Grant from the Golisano Foundation to expand Life Skill Series

Fort Myers, Florida – August 7, 2023 – Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Pathways to Opportunity program for adults with disabilities is pleased to announce it has received a grant of $50,000 from the Golisano Foundation to expand its Life Skill Series. The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

“We are grateful to the Golisano Foundation for this generous grant, which will help us expand our Life Skills Series program. The program is crucial to teaching life skills with real-world and real-time applications to adults with disabilities” says John Nadeau, President and CEO of Goodwill SWFL. “With support from organizations like the Golisano Foundation, our organization is able to fill this need in Southwest Florida.”

Goodwill’s Life Skills series allows young adults to experience the program over one to two weeks which involves classes focused on communication, community safety, transportation training, and performing arts.

“We commend Goodwill’s efforts in identifying a service gap and developing a creative solution that encompasses participant interests, community engagement, service navigation, and wraparound support resources.” Says Ann Costello former Director of the Golisano Foundation.

Goodwill SWFL’s Pathways to Opportunity Program is an adult training program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The five-day-a-week program features classes focused on breaking limitations by teaching crucial life skills such as financial literacy, digital skills, self-advocacy, cooking, navigating public transit, and more while having fun!

Golisano has supported Goodwill’s Pathways to Opportunity program since 2021. Funding has supported programming expansions including a small business development class and the Life Skills Series.

If you or a loved one would like to join our next Life Skill Series or Pathways to Opportunity, please email Jessica Tursi 239-995-2106 ext. 2301 or [email protected].

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. For more information on how Goodwill SWFL positively impacts the community, visit www.Goodwillswfl.org

The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation is devoted to opening doors to opportunity, changing negative perceptions and stereotypes, and forging unprecedented partnerships to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have pathways to personal dignity, independence, and the best possible expression of their abilities and talents throughout their lifetimes. Founded in 1985 by Tom Golisano—entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Paychex, Inc. —the Foundation “imagines the possibilities,” advocating for families, fighting for their dignity, and giving people with IDD the opportunity to thrive in their communities. With more than $60 million in gross assets, it awards about $3 million annually to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.