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Senate Resolution

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A resolution commending the Florida Goodwill Association

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for its contributions to the economic base of the State of

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Florida and its provision of employment and job training

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to millions of Floridians.

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     WHEREAS, Goodwill Industries, operating on the belief that

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productivity and vocation are cornerstones of life and that all

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people have a right to be treated with dignity and respect

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without regard to race, gender, age, marital status, national

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origin, or state of health, is now the largest nonprofit provider

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of vocational training and employment services in the United

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States, and

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     WHEREAS, Goodwill Industries provides quality vocational

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training and employment services to people who are impaired by

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disabilities and to those who suffer other disadvantages, such as

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being undereducated or illiterate, welfare-dependent, or

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homeless, or having a criminal history, and

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     WHEREAS, through the 106 years of its existence, Goodwill

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Industries has successfully designed and implemented many

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innovative vocational training and employment programs, enabling

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millions of people with disabilities and disadvantages to develop

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career opportunities and improve the quality of their lives, and

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     WHEREAS, in the 2007 calendar year, 141,924 Floridians have

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participated in the programs administered by Goodwill Industries,

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and 44,084 of those participants have obtained gainful employment

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in the communities in which they live, and

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     WHEREAS, throughout this last calendar year, the Florida

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Goodwill Association, through nine local Goodwill Industries

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entities operating throughout Florida, collectively generated

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more than $641 million in earnings realized by people in

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community employment, resulting in a significant contribution to

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the state's economic base and increasing its tax revenues, NOW,

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THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Senate commends the Florida Goodwill Association

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for its valued programs and vision, which have expanded the

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employment opportunities and occupational capabilities of

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millions of Floridians.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with

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the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Mr. Tom Fuerig,

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President of the Florida Goodwill Association, as a tangible

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token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.