Wilbert: "Goodwill gave me a chance to start a real career!"

It started out like any other Tuesday. Wilbert had attended his college classes and worked his shift as a forklift operator. But as he headed home, with a bag of groceries in his arms, a figure stepped out of the shadows. And then a shot rang out…

In an instant, a robber’s bullet changed Wilbert’s life forever.

When he woke up in the hospital, he could tell from the doctors’ faces that something was seriously wrong. And then they gave him the news: he was now a paraplegic – totally paralyzed from the waist down – and he would have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

But what would he do? What could he do when so many of the options he had once considered were now closed to him?

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. And it’s thanks to people like you that it does!

Because of your generous support, Goodwill of Greater Washington was there for Wilbert when he needed us most – providing training that enabled him to overcome his disability and become self-supporting.

Your gift is especially important during the holiday season. While the economy is the subject of great debate right now, one thing remains constant: the employment picture remains bleak for those who are disabled or lack the skills to meet the demands of today’s marketplace.

As a result, more and more people are coming to Goodwill for help. And to give them the chance they need to succeed – often the only chance available to them – we have expanded our services and need to do even more in the coming year.

Your gift will help make this possible with services like:

The Northern Virginia Training Center – This secondary training center will offer job readiness classes, computer training, ESL courses and other job preparation skills.

Job Readiness Skills Road Show – which will allow Goodwill to take our job readiness courses into the communities that need us, rather than require that the people we serve come directly to us.

Bank Skills Training Courses – Goodwill of Greater Washington will be able to offer training in banking skills with the help of a grant from Bank of America. For people with disadvantages and disabilities, this will open up a new world of possibilities once thought unattainable for them.

To show you what kind of impact these programs have in human terms, let me tell you the rest of Wilbert’s story…

In the hospital and later as he recuperated at home, Wilbert had plenty of time to think. But try as he might, he couldn’t think of a way out of his predicament.

Then a friend told him about the free computer training Goodwill offers. And that was all he needed to hear!

With no previous knowledge of computers, he immersed himself in the class, graduating a few months later with perfect attendance and with high honors! Wilbert went on to learn more about financial management and is now earning his own money as an accountant at Goodwill of Greater Washington while building a happy life with his wife.

“Since I was paralyzed, I’ve had to rely on my brain and jump-start it. The experience gave me a chance to start a real career!” Wilbert told us.

In short, Wilbert not only has a job. He has a future! A future you made possible when you made sure the doors to Goodwill were open to him… and kept a robber’s bullet from shattering his dreams.

This holiday season won’t you again help someone who’s struggling against the odds to achieve a better life? Someone who isn’t looking for a handout – but just a little help… and hope!

Please help Goodwill of Greater Washington give the disadvantaged and disabled members of our community the one thing that every human being deserves: dignity.

This holiday season, people with disadvantages and disabilities want to buy gifts for their loved ones just as you do. Won’t you please give them that opportunity by making a cash gift to Goodwill?

Thank you for your generosity!


If you'd like to read more Goodwill of Greater Washington success stories like Wilbert's, click here.