Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc. has partnered with Albany Technical College in Albany, Ga. and Southern Regional Technical College in Tifton, Ga. to provide scholarships, training and educational support for individuals in the community.

Through this new partnership, Goodwill will offer scholarships to individuals attending Albany Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College and planning to further their education. The scholarships will be funded by round-up donations, which are optional monetary donations that are received once a purchase has been made at a Goodwill retail store. All round-up dollars are used to fund GED or secondary education scholarships for individuals in the community.

Albany Technical College is offering the new scholarships to individuals in the home health aide certification program, while Southern Regional Technical College is offering scholarships for their manufacturing-ready employees program, as well as for 40 hours of soft skills training provided by Goodwill. Eligibility for the scholarship is based on financial need and the schools can also refer deserving individuals.

This partnership announcement comes as we approach National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, which is celebrated between September 22 - 28. According to the National Coalition for Literacy, 36 million adults are considered to have low literacy skills. Through this week they hope to raise awareness about the value of adult education and family literacy with the goal of leveraging resources that support basic education programs for adults.

Through continued partnerships with technical colleges throughout the community, Goodwill is dedicated to supporting and empowering the community through education, training and employment opportunities. The programs and scholarships Goodwill offers show how generous donations and round-up dollars are used to fund the mission of “Developing People. Changing Lives. Building Communities.”