Goodwill of Orange County's President and CEO Frank Talarico, Jr. to Serve as Council of California Goodwill Industries Chair

Santa Ana, CA, January 28, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Frank Talarico, Jr., President and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, has been appointed as Chair of the Council of California Goodwill Industries, the largest association of Goodwill organizations in the country, effective January 1, 2015.

The Council of California Goodwill Industries is a professional association made up of 13 Goodwill member associations operating in California and Southern Oregon. The council was established in 1970 to pool member expertise, contacts and resources to monitor business trends, influence public policy and raise awareness of Goodwill’s mission and workforce development programs for individuals facing barriers.

"I am honored to be selected as the new chair for the Council of California Goodwill Industries. Goodwill of Orange County continues to be at the forefront of innovative programs designed to help people with barriers to employment, including veterans and many individuals with disabilities, find and keep purpose-filling jobs."

Frank Talarico, Jr., President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County

“I am honored to be selected as the new chair for the Council of California Goodwill Industries,” said Talarico, Jr. “Goodwill of Orange County continues to be at the forefront of innovative programs designed to help people with barriers to employment, including veterans and many individuals with disabilities, find and keep purpose-filling jobs.”

As chair, Talarico, Jr. will lead the Council in statewide and regional collaborative ventures that advance Goodwill’s service offerings.

For more information about the Council of California Goodwill Industries and the 13 associations, visit www.californiagoodwills.org.

About Goodwill of Orange County

Since 1924, Goodwill of Orange County has been in the business of helping people who are facing barriers to enter the workforce in a meaningful, fulfilling manner. Founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to achieve the independence that work provides, Goodwill is most recognized for being the conduit where donated goods are sold in America’s favorite thrift stores to generate the revenue that provides the services to those who face employment challenges. Celebrating its 90th year in 2014, Goodwill of Orange County has supported thousands of Orange County residents since its inception by creating and providing quality training and employment services to empower its program participants to be productive and independent. The nonprofit organization has dozens of programs that support this effort, including the Goodwill Fitness Center, Orange County’s only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; its veterans’ advocacy program, Enduring Independence, which helps veterans and their families transition to civilian life through the power of work; and its Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities. These are just a few of Goodwill of Orange County’s innovative programs that have served those facing barriers in Orange County for the past nine decades. In 2012, Goodwill was named one of Orange County’s Most Trusted Brands. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit www.ocgoodwill.org.

Media contact: Nicole Morrison, nmorrison@cornerstonecomms.com or (949) 200-6112