Goodwill Industries Denver has been contributing to the community for over 90 years by reinvesting capital back into educational programs for locals. These programs, in part due to public-private partnerships like Goodwill Denver has with JPMorgan Chase, includes education initiatives, career development programs and employment opportunities to help Colorado residents achieve self-sufficiency, dignity and hope.
JPMorgan Chase’s connection with Goodwill Denver goes back many years, and stretches across multiple facets—including e-commerce strategy development, employee volunteerism, client service and grant allocation—to help expand the reach and impact of Goodwill’s programs. And at the heart of that relationship is local Chase bank president and Goodwill Denver board member Todd Munson.
In addition to spending hours volunteering in Denver classrooms, Munson recently researched practices at other Goodwill operations. As a result, he worked with Goodwill Denver to develop and implement a new e-commerce strategy to help the organization increase its retail business.
With a revamped online retail presence in place, and more revenue to give to the community, Goodwill Denver is better equipped to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the state. As of 2014, Colorado’s graduation rate was among the lowest nationwide at 77 percent.1 In Denver, however, the 2014 rate was just 62.8 percent.2
To help elevate graduation rates and prepare students for a brighter future, Goodwill Denver, with help from JPMorgan Chase, has launched a number of forward-thinking programs designed to help young people understand that they must start with a high school diploma and build from there.
“We realized if we started serving people when they were younger, getting them to focus on careers while still in high school, we’d reverse the cycle of poverty,” said Kristen Blessman, CMO of Goodwill Denver.
JPMorgan Chase employees have volunteered with Goodwill’s high school program as mentors, speakers and role players in mock job interviews. But the partnership is about much more than money—it’s truly about early intervention to help underserved students avoid becoming at-risk adults.
For more information about Goodwill Denver, visit: www.goodwilldenver.org or learn about Denver & JPMorgan Chase & Co.
After living abroad for 19 years, Donna returned to the U.S. and is settled in Denver. She has written for AP, CBS, The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe.
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