For Immediate Release
Monday, March 31st, 2008

BUILDING VALUE IN THE COMMUNITY:
GOODWILL OPENS NEW COMMUNITY STORE IN ORILLIA

ORILLIA, March 31, 2008 - Goodwill is creating work in the Orillia community. On Wednesday, April 2nd, Goodwill is hosting the opening of its new community store in Orillia, located at 4 King Street. Doors will open at 9 a.m.

“This is an exciting time for the Orillia community and Goodwill,” says Dr. Ken Connelly, President and CEO, Goodwill. “The new, spacious community store allows us to create an even better and more inspiring place for people to shop, donate and work.”

This central location makes it convenient for both donors and customers. The new store offers many enhanced features including an easily accessible drive-thru donation site, a community room, brighter and clearer signs, larger inventory and generally, a fresh, new approach to retailing. There will also be thousands of new items, including tons of designer labels, collectables and brand new merchandise.

Goodwill’s decision to relocate its existing community store in Orillia is evidence of its continual commitment to create jobs for people in the surrounding area who face employment barriers. For nine years, Goodwill worked with the Orillia community, providing access to employment and a safe place for the community to meet, donate and shop.

“The new store will create new Goodwill REACH^TM positions. Work builds value, as employment opportunities create stronger communities,” says Connelly. “The benefits of employment stretch across all aspects of the community - affecting education, housing, crime prevention and community safety.”

Goodwill REACH^TM (Real Employment to Achieve Community Health) offers paid employment to members of the community who face barriers to employment including youth at risk, persons with disabilities, the chronically unemployed, Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada.

About Goodwill
Since 1935, Goodwill’s mission is to create work opportunities and skills development for people facing barriers to employment, including persons with disabilities, youth at risk, the chronically unemployed, Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada. Our Community Stores sell a wide variety of donated goods, the revenues from which create jobs at Goodwill, giving people much-needed paid work experience.

-30-

Media Contacts:
Mitzie Hunter, VP External Relations
Tel: 416-815-4751 Cell: 416-564-3530 E-mail: mhunter@goodwill.on.ca

Andrea Kligman, Marketing and Community Development Specialist
Tel: 416-815-4805 E-mail: akligman@goodwill.on.ca