MIAMI (July 1, 2021) – Capture Goodwill South Florida’s Program Participants Manufacturing U.S. Interment Flags and Uniforms Just in Time for Independence Day Learn How the Nonprofit Helps People with Disabilities and Other Work Barriers live the American Dream
What: Goodwill South Florida invites the media to visit its Ryder Apparel Manufacturing Division for an opportunity to capture, first-hand, the production of U.S. interment flags and uniforms, just in time for the 4th of July. Goodwill South Florida is the only Goodwill that manufactures interment flags, producing over 85,000 flags annually. The South Florida non-profit also manufactures more than one million uniforms and uniform components for the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force each year. Goodwill provides jobs to the often most marginalized people in our community—people with disabilities and other work barriers—helping them to live the American Dream by providing them with the opportunity to be self-sufficient and enjoy independence despite their disabilities. The Ryder Apparel Manufacturing Division employs about 1,000 of these Goodwill Program Participants between sewing operators and support staff.
When: Friday, July 2, 2021 10:00 a.m. – noon.
Where: Goodwill South Florida 2125 N.W. 21St Miami, FL 33142
Who: Interview availability with: David Landsberg, CEO/President of Goodwill South Florida Lourdes De La Mata-Little, VP of Marketing and Development, Goodwill South Florida Goodwill Program Participants who manufacture the flags and uniforms
Visuals: Program Participants cutting and sewing Army service uniforms and interment flags Miles of raw materials in camouflage, red, white, and blue Massive embroidery machines stitching stars on the U.S. flag Mannequins dressed in the Army’s new service uniforms
# # #
About Goodwill South Florida
Goodwill South Florida, serving Miami, Broward and Monroe counties, is the 17th largest employer in South Florida. The nonprofit’s mission is training, employment and job placement for people with disabilities and other barriers to work, helping individuals increase productivity and achieve greater independence. The agency provides disability services to over 7,000 South Floridians. Goodwill engages in a unique social enterprise model that funds mission services and employment for over 3,100 persons. Although most known for its Goodwill donation centers and retail stores, the organization’s other entrepreneurial businesses include Ryder Apparel Manufacturing, Custodial Services , Laundry Services and Third Party Logistics Solutions, which train and employ a large number of people, while providing mission funding. Goodwill South Florida is one of the most cost-effective non-profits in the U.S with 96 percent of its budget going directly to programs that are aimed at people with disabilities and other barriers to work. For more information, please visit goodwillsouthflorida.org or our newsroom and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter and tags us @GoodwillSFL.
