GII, Together Foundation Team Up to Expand Goodwill’s Social Enterprise Model in Korea

July 15, 2011

0014847e-0d07-4093-913a-9c285abb67edGoodwill Industries International began a new chapter in its international expansion efforts in early July, when it entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Together Foundation to continue to spread Goodwill Industries of Korea’s (GIK) mission throughout the country. The Together Foundation operates with a similar mission to Goodwill, aiming to provide stable jobs to people with disabilities and challenges to employment.

The new collaboration between the foundation and Goodwill Industries of Korea will also focus on promoting mission-based services, such as multicultural family support services and the North Korean resettlement program.

During an inauguration ceremony on July 1, Together Foundation Chairman and former CEO of Samsung China Hyong Ok Jang expressed his gratitude for the support of Dr. Young Woo Kang, founder of GIK and former GII board member, and Jim Gibbons, GII president and CEO. He also voiced his appreciation to the board members of GIK and the Together Foundation.

“We thank, praise and give glory to God for this historic moment,” said Jang. “The Together Foundation will cooperate and unite with Goodwill Industries of Korea member organizations and invest every ounce of our energy into spreading the Goodwill enterprise all over Korea.”

“We look forward to a new chapter for Goodwill Industries of Korea,” said GII President and CEO Jim Gibbons. “We are confident that The Together Foundation has the capacity to lead, unify and strengthen the Goodwill brand in Korea, hand-in-hand with the Goodwill affiliates in Pusan, Suwon, and Seoul, and those that are newly forming in additional cities around Korea.”

Gibbons credited Kang’s leadership for helping to establish the powerful network of Goodwills in Korea that exists today, noting, “We are now in a position to take GIK to the next level, to create thousands of jobs for people with disabilities and other disadvantages in Korea through the sustainable Goodwill social enterprise model.”

In August, a team from GII will travel to Korea to further solidify the agreement and jointly develop a strategic plan for Goodwill in Korea.