East Bay Goodwill

Goodwill’s Board of Directors honored several individuals and partners who have exemplified the mission of Goodwill and Calidad Industries at our Second Annual Awards Ceremony on March 23, 2006.  Eight awards were given, four to individuals and four to other organizations in our community.  

One of the individuals honored was Cheryl Castillo, an employee at Goodwill Industries who also attended and excelled in our community workforce development programs.  After successfully completing our program, she began working for Goodwill’s Workforce Development Department.  Ms. Castillo was awarded the “Power of Work Award” honoring her strength in overcoming multiple obstacles.  She was also nominated by Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay for the national Helms Graduate Staff Award at Goodwill Industries International. 

Milagros Taylor, a cook at Calidad’s Coast Guard Island food service contract, was also one of our individuals honored.  Ms. Taylor received the Chairman’s Award, which honors an outstanding employee.  Her extraordinary commitment to Calidad Industries, an affiliate of Goodwill which provides contract services under JWOD federal legislation, is evident in her longevity with the agency and her continued effort to develop stronger job skills.  She often assumes management duties when the Coast Guard Island team’s supervisor is off-site. 

“All of those nominated and awarded have demonstrated a strong commitment to the mission of Goodwill and Calidad,” said John B. Latchford, President & CEO.  “Through these awards, the Board of Directors recognizes individuals who have overcome difficult challenges and successfully made positive changes in their lives.  We also acknowledge that we can not do this alone, and that many community, governmental, and private organizations contribute so much to help us achieve our mission in the community,” he added, referring to the agency awards also presented during the ceremony.

Awardees also include Charquilla McGaffeny from Calidad Industries for Apprentice of the Year for her continued growth with the agency and Olga Dominquez for Placement of Year, for Ms. Dominquez’s exemplary participation in our program and her newly-secured job at Fox Hollow Technology.  Organizations honored included Alameda County Vocational Programs as our Community Partner of the Year, Chief Petty Officer Leonard Varisco for the U.S. Coast Guard at Coast Guard Island as Mission Advocate of the Year, Envoy –Maritz for Employer of the Year, and Alameda County Social Services Agency as New Community Partnership of the Year.