Goodwill donates $5,000 for Kishwaukee College scholarships

Representatives from Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois donated $5,000 to their scholarship endowment fund at Kishwaukee College on September 1. The scholarship monies are raised in Goodwill Stores across the region by customers “rounding up” the cost of their purchases at checkout, with 100% of the money going to scholarship funds at community colleges across the area. Pictured at Kishwaukee College, L to R, are Dr. Tom Choice, President of Kishwaukee College; Sam Schmitz, President of Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois; Julie Keast, Kishwaukee College student recipient of the 2015-16 Goodwill Scholarship; and Courtney Geiger, Director of Mission Services for Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is proud to announce that, for the fourth year, it has awarded Kishwaukee College funding for scholarships for adults with disabilities. On September 1, representatives of Goodwill were on campus to donate $5,000 to a scholarship endowment fund administered by the Kishwaukee College Foundation that assists students with barriers to advancing their education. The scholarships enable individuals with disabilities to build a better future for themselves, their families, and the community as a whole. The Kishwaukee College Foundation oversees the award process for students.

Making the donation on campus were Sam Schmitz, President of Goodwill, and Courtney Geiger, Director of Mission Services. Also on hand for the check presentation was this year’s Goodwill Scholarship recipient, Julie Keast. Keast, from Cortland, is a nursing major at Kishwaukee College, planning to pursue a specialty in obstetrics. She stated, “I am honored to be a recipient of the 2015-2016 Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois scholarship. Their support is helping me to fulfill my lifelong dream of going to college and becoming a registered nurse.”

Keast noted that she had seen the scholarship donation box at the counter while shopping at the Goodwill Store in DeKalb. Goodwill has instituted a simple giving opportunity in their stores: customers are asked if they want to “round up” the amount of their purchase with the extra money being 100% donated to the scholarship fund. Goodwill funds scholarships at several community colleges in northern Illinois, including Kishwaukee College, Rock Valley College, Beloit Technical College, McHenry County College, Sauk Valley College, Highland Community College, and Illinois Valley Community College.

Marshall Hayes, Director of Development for the Kishwaukee College Foundation, stated, “The Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois Scholarship for students with disabilities has a huge impact on those who receive them. We really appreciate the support of Goodwill and their commitment to keeping quality education affordable and attainable for all of our students.”

For more information on Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, visit www.goodwillni.org. For more information on the Kishwaukee College Foundation, visit www.kishwaukeecollege.edu or call 815-825-2086, ext. 2660.