Summer 2016

Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin strengthens our community
by providing supportive housing, employment services, and other assistance
to local residents with disabilities or other challenges.
SUMMER 2016
Profile of Success: Ann Mulligan
accommodations, such as a change
in how and where they take a test.
She also makes sure students are
using the accommodations that
are available to them.
Michelle said, “When I first started
working with Ann, she was a little
shy and withdrawn. She didn’t really
want to explore the school beyond the
Student Achievement Center and her
classes. By second semester, she was
practicing basketball during open gym
time. Now, I see her in all areas of the
campus and she always has a smile to
share.”
Madison College student Ann Mulligan, left, meets weekly with Goodwill’s educational support specialist
Michelle Monzo.
Ann Mulligan is a hard-working,
young woman who is making her
lifelong dream of attending college
come true.
Ann has Down syndrome. She
didn’t begin speaking until she was
six years old and was very quiet
in school. Kathy O’Leary, Ann’s
mom, is thankful that Ann’s fellow
classmates were so supportive
and accepting of her early on and
throughout the years. Being part of
their group gave her an opportunity
to learn how to do things by
watching others. In high school, her
class named her homecoming queen
and she served as a manager of the
school’s football team for four years.
With her high school years behind
her, Ann has spent the past two years
taking classes at Madison College.
She has also participated in our PostSecondary Academic Support for
Success (PASS) program.
Through the program, Michelle
Monzo, Goodwill’s educational
support specialist, meets with
participating students with disabilities
one-on-one at least once a week, at
Madison College’s Truax campus.
During their meetings, she helps
students understand what is expected
in regard to their homework and
reteaches concepts when necessary.
She also shares information about
the resources that are available
through the college and helps
them as they request any necessary
She added that when Ann arrives
at the center, she starts her work
independently. She rarely asks for
tutoring. Like most students, she can
get anxious before tests, but is familiar
with the procedure and knows what
to expect and how to sign up for the
testing accommodations.
“Ann is a hard-working, successful
student!” Michelle said.
Her hard work has paid off. She has
consistently done well in her classes
which have covered the subjects of
math, reading, swimming, and biking.
In fact, during the fall semester she
earned an A/B in algebra!
Continued on page 2
“Her increased
independence has
affected all of the
things she does, from
sitting down to do her
homework, to taking
shuttles to other Madison
College campuses
on her own, to doing
housework. I have really
seen her grow.”
- Ann’s mom
Ann enjoys venturing around Madison College’s Truax Campus.
Continued from page 1
Ann wants to continue to take
classes, especially in math. But that
will have to wait a bit because this
fall she will be an intern with the
Project SEARCH career training
program at University Hospital.
It provides young adults with
disabilities with complete immersion
in a business setting combined
with classroom instruction and
personalized feedback structures.
Ann hopes to someday have a job
working with animals.
Kathy marvels at the transformation
Ann has experienced during her
time in the PASS program.
“The first day I brought her to
school she was holding her stomach
because she was so nervous,” she
said. “The program has helped her
self-confidence. It did not take very
long for her to just jump out of the
car all ready to go.”
Kathy said Ann takes pride in telling
people she is going to college,
because that is what she has always
2
wanted to do. And, she has grown
much more independent.
“Her increased independence
has affected all of the things she
does, from sitting down to do her
homework, to taking shuttles to other
Madison College campuses on her
own, to doing housework. I have really
seen her grow,” she said.
Kathy said Ann is also more confident
in her interactions with others. She is
comfortable sending email and text
messages and her sense of humor has
blossomed.
“Before, she wouldn’t say much. Now
she is coming up with some great lines
and not letting her dad or uncle tease
her without giving them some teasing
back!” she remarked.
While the PASS program is designed
to assist students with disabilities,
others benefit as well.
“I’m a lot more comfortable with
Ann going to school, thanks to the
program,” Kathy said. “I can’t be with
her all the time and it’s not like high
school where there was someone with
her all day. Because of this program, I
know there is someone at school who
checks in with her.”
According to Kathy, Ann continues to
watch what people do and then does
those things herself. For example, Ann,
an early riser, decided on her own
that it would be easier if she prepared
Kathy’s coffee and had it ready for her
when she entered the kitchen in the
morning. She puts her organizational
skills to use by updating the family’s
calendar of activities and lets them
know when something is scheduled.
In fall, Ann’s schedule is particularly
full. She likes going to her former high
school’s football games. On Saturdays,
she likes to watch the Badgers play.
When the pros play on Sundays, she
likes to watch games all day long. Her
favorite team of course is the Packers
but she’ll also root for former Badger
players and their teams.
Her love of sports isn’t limited to
watching football. She likes to swim,
bike, play basketball, and toss around
footballs and baseballs.
For more information about Goodwill’s PASS
program, contact Tom Grunder, director of
workforce development, tgrunder@goodwillscwi.org, 608-246-3140, ext. 190.
Join Our
Team!
Do you want a job that makes
a positive difference in our
community? One that changes the
lives of individuals with disabilities
or other challenges?
We offer career opportunities that
allow you to:
• P
lay a key role in
generating revenue for our
life-changing services
• Have the joy and satisfaction
of directly impacting the lives
of others
• Contribute your skills to
the structure that makes
our services possible
We operate facilities in Madison,
Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona,
Fort Atkinson, Platteville, Portage,
Richland Center, and Sun Prairie.
Full-time employees (those working
30 or more hours per week) are
eligible for health, dental, life, and
disability insurance, retirement
plans, and paid holiday, vacation,
and sick time. Part-time employees
working 25 to 29 hours per week are
eligible for paid holiday, vacation,
and sick time. All employees receive
a 20 percent discount on items
purchased at a Goodwill of South
Central Wisconsin store.
Welcome to Goodwill Jeff!
We are pleased to welcome
Jeff Bundgaard as our new
director of stores. His duties
include providing leadership and
strategic management direction
to our retail operations.
ever had was at Goodwill of San
Diego County. I look forward to
developing partnerships within our
organization and working with
the store teams to support
our mission.”
Jeff brings many years of
retail experience working for
Goodwill of San Diego County,
as well as Pier 1 Imports,
Petco, and Burlington. He has
held leadership positions as
operations director, regional/
district manager, market
coordinator, and store manager.
He holds a bachelor’s degree
from the University of Wisconsin
– Eau Claire.
If you want to provide fulfillment,
pride, and a path toward a brighter
future to individuals with disabilities
or other challenges, check out our
career opportunities at goodwillscwi.
org or our home office on Madison’s
east side (1302 Mendota St., 608-2463140). You can apply online or pick
up an application at the home office
or any Goodwill of South Central
Wisconsin store.
Apply today!
His interests include biking,
playing tennis and racquetball,
and spending as much time as
possible exploring the state of
Wisconsin. He enjoys traveling and
has been to all 50 states. As a huge
Badgers fan, Jeff enjoys watching
their events in person and on
television. He lives in Oregon with
his fiancé, Kim.
Jeff is excited to join us, stating,
“I am very happy to be working
at Goodwill again. The most
fulfilling work experience I
Jeff Bundgaard, our new director of stores
3
Goodwill’s
Melting Pot
Includes
Hmong
Goodwill is a melting pot of
ethnicities. Some of our staff belong
to ethnic groups that have been in
Wisconsin for many years, some
since our state was founded. Others
are members of groups that are
relatively new to the area. One such
group is the Hmong and we are glad
several Hmong individuals are part
of the Goodwill family.
The Hmong are an ethnic group
from southern China and the
mountainous regions of China,
Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. During
what our country refers to as the
Vietnam War, the United States
recruited thousands of Hmong
people from Laos to fight against
Communist insurgents and forces
from North Vietnam. Following the
Communist victory in 1975, fear
of reprisal stimulated a massive
Hmong exodus to Thailand and
then the West.
Born in Laos in the mid-1960s,
Tongloukou, Ger, and their families
immigrated to Thailand, where they
lived in refugee camps. Kia’s family
also lived in a Thai refugee camp, with
her mother giving birth to her in the
early 1980s. Yer was born at about the
same time, also in Thailand.
Although life was difficult, there were
happy times before their departures
for the United States. All four met
their spouses, married, and had several
children.
Life in the United States
Tongloukou was the first of the group
to immigrate to the United States. He
arrived here in 1992, at the age of 28.
The others arrived in 2004 or 2005,
with Kia and Yer being in their early
20s and Ger arriving when she was 40
years old.
Upon their arrival, other Hmong helped
them adjust. Their biggest challenges
were their inability to read, write, and
understand English, not knowing how
to drive a car, and in Ger’s and Kia’s
cases, not having a home.
Hmong-Americans are the
largest Asian ethnic group
in Wisconsin. According
to the 2010 United States
census, there were 49,240
Hmong persons living in
Wisconsin, making up
0.9 percent of the state’s
population. Wisconsin has
the third-largest Hmong
population, after California
and Minnesota.
About 4,230 Hmong
people live in the Madison
area. As of 2014, the
largest Hmong populations
in the state are located
in Madison, Green Bay/
Appleton, La Crosse,
Milwaukee, Sheboygan,
and Wausau.
Source: Southern
Wisconsin Hmong
Association
But they persevered and eventually
found their way to Madison and
Goodwill. Tongloukou applied for
a job after learning about Goodwill
through a friend and the others were
hired after working at Goodwill
through a work experience program.
This is the story of four of our
Hmong employees – Tongloukou
Thao, Ger Vang, Kia Thao, and Yer
Yang. Four individuals who proudly
call themselves Hmong-Americans
and who met each other after their
arrival at Goodwill.
Early Life
Like so many others, Tongloukou’s,
Ger’s, Kia’s, and Yer’s grandparents,
parents, and/or other relatives
assisted the United States during the
war. To save their lives and the lives
of their family members following
our departure, they began the
journey to the West.
4
Pictured from left to right are employees Ger Vang, Kia Thao, Yer Yang, and Tongloukou Thao.
All four work at our donation center
on Madison’s east side. They sort
donated goods and occasionally
interact with the public. In their
view, their duties are a good fit.
Their limited ability to speak and
write in English doesn’t impede their
ability to sort goods and they’re able
to practice their speaking and/or
writing skills when they interact with
the public and their co-workers.
Free Money Skills
Educational Tool
Available
Their jobs make it possible for
them to provide shelter for their
families, pay their bills, provide for
their children, and have a car – a
possession that greatly adds to their
independence. Some hope to save
enough money to buy a house or a
car that is new and therefore reliable.
“It’s so easy to make money-related
mistakes and, sadly, those mistakes can
be very costly,” said Tom Grunder, our
director of workforce development.
“This interactive program helps you
improve your money management
skills, and, you can ask for help from
a Goodwill staff member as you work
through the modules.”
Each have had additional children
since arriving in the United States.
To preserve and/or share their
culture with their children, they
speak Hmong at home, eat the kind
of foods that are served in their
homeland, encourage their children
to learn to play Hmong musical
instruments, wear traditional
clothing at celebrations and funerals,
and/or teach their children about
Hmong traditions. One such
tradition is the celebration of the
Hmong New Year. Taking place in
fall, it celebrates the rice harvest and
is similar to our Thanksgiving.
In partnership with Summit Credit
Union, we’re offering a free, online
educational tool that teaches you
how to be in charge of your money
and credit.
The program is called FoolProof Solo.
Topics covered include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
How your credit rules your life
Which credit cards to avoid
Why fine print is dangerous
What impacts your credit
Checking account do’s and don’ts
How to spot scams
FoolProof Solo is the only financial
literacy program in the United
States that is endorsed by both the
Consumer Federation of America
and the National Association of
Consumer Advocates.
FoolProof Solo
To get started:
• V
isit foolproof.
summitcreditunion.com/
goodwillscwi.html
• Select “FoolProff Login”
at the top right
• Select “Login” at the
FoolProof Solo tab
• Select “Register.” If
you want the help of a
Goodwill staff member
as you work through
this program, enter the
following “mentor code”
when registering: 11199-215
• Create your account
and begin your journey
toward taking control of
your financial well-being
We recommend you work
through all modules.
Even though they no longer live in
a rice-producing area of the world,
rice is an important part of their
diet. While they eagerly admit they
love all types of American food, they
smile and proudly declare that they
love and want rice too!
Check out our new
mobile-friendly website!
goodwillscwi.org
5
Career Center
Reaches Out
to Inmates
For two years, Pam Johnson,
manager of the Goodwill Career
Center, has been sharing helpful
information with a particular group
of people who may face a number
of challenges finding a job. That
group is individuals who are serving
time in a correctional facility.
Johnson has attended and
will continue to participate in
special events designed to share
information with inmates that
will help them function and
succeed after they are released.
While at these events she tells
inmates about the free job searchrelated services that are available
at our Career Center in Fitchburg.
These services include access to
computers and help creating cover
letters and résumés.
While our free one-on-one services
are available to everyone, they may
be especially helpful to former
inmates. For example, individuals
who have served a lengthy sentence
may not have the basic technology
skills many take for granted and
are needed in order to apply for a
job and participate in an interview.
They may not have access to or
know how to use a computer to fill
out applications, write a cover letter,
prepare a résumé, or create an email
account. They also may not know
how to use a smartphone.
Former inmates wanting to send a
cover letter with their résumé can
face the challenge of how to address
the fact that they don’t have recent
work experience in the community.
And, some may have the challenge
of creating a résumé that
demonstrates the work they
performed while incarcerated.
“While these are challenges, the
Career Center staff have the
experience, skills, and tools needed to
meet their job search needs whatever
they are and we will help them for
however long it takes,” Johnson said.
“That’s true for everyone who visits
the Career Center!”
Johnson has also conducted several
workshops on how to search for
job openings, write quality cover
letters, and create résumés that will
hopefully lead to a job interview. She
has also offered tips for participating
in job interviews.
During her visits to four sites,
Johnson has interacted with about 350
inmates. She said many of them have
graciously expressed their gratitude
for her taking the time to visit their
facility and share helpful information.
Military Medal
Donated to
Goodwill
A Purple Heart medal was among
some jewelry that was recently
dropped off at one of our donation
centers. According to the Military
Order of the Purple Heart
organization, the medal is awarded
6
Pam Johnson,
manager of
the Goodwill
Career Center
Goodwill Career Center
6291 McKee Road, Fitchburg
Accessible via Madison Metro route 52
608-268-5175
pjohnson@goodwillscwi.org
FREE services available to
individuals with or without
disabilities include:
• A
ccess to high-speed
internet to search for
jobs and community
programs and services
• H
elp creating résumés,
cover letters, and thank
you letters
• A
n opportunity to
increase interviewing
skills by participating
in mock job interviews
• A
safe and supportive
environment
Hours:
10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Monday through Friday
to members of the armed forces who
were wounded by an instrument of
war in the hands of the enemy, or,
posthumously to the next of kin in
the name of those who were killed
in action or died of wounds received
in action. We respectfully donated
the medal to the Wisconsin Veterans
Museum in Madison and are waiting
to hear if the museum has located the
recipient’s family.
Kathy Mannlein, second from the right, is joined by Co-Director of Donated Goods Retail SueAnn Kraus, far right. Also pictured are mission services
directors Elena Golden, director of residential services, and Tom Grunder, director of workforce development.
Best Wishes on Your Retirement Kathy!
Donated Goods Retail
Co-Director Kathy Mannlein
recently retired after 20 years
of service to Goodwill and
individuals with disabilities
or other challenges.
Tax Prep Service
Continues to Grow
This year, 381 low-income individuals
and families received our free income
tax preparation services. That’s 80
more than were served in 2015!
Through our program, called
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA), trained volunteers provided
valuable help to low-income
residents such as the elderly,
individuals with disabilities, and
limited-English speaking persons.
They answered questions, referred
residents to other resources, and
prepared income tax returns.
“Our program is truly making
a difference in the lives of area
low-income residents,” said Sonja
Patterson, our volunteer coordinator.
“Because our trained volunteers help
them claim the special credits and
Kathy’s expertise was in retail
sales. During her tenure, our
donated goods program grew from
five stores to our current nine and
our annual sales revenue increased
from $2.8 million in 1996 to $10.5
million in 2015.
We are indebted to Kathy for her
vision and commitment to our
mission and wish her the best as
she begins this next chapter in
her life.
deductions for which they are eligible,
they don’t pay more in income taxes
than they are legally obligated to. Plus,
because they receive this help free of
charge, they save on tax prep costs.
These money-saving measures help
improve their economic well-being.”
This year, our volunteers prepared 324
tax returns, an increase of more than
25 percent over last year. Collectively,
clients received nearly $300,000 in tax
refunds and, because our services were
provided free of charge, saved over
$61,000 in tax return preparation fees!
The average annual income for the
individuals we served was $17,500.
During the four years that we have
provided free tax preparation assistance
in partnership with the Internal
Revenue Service, our clients received a
total of over $800,000 in refunds and
the number of participating taxpayers
has increased each year. For two years
prior to operating our own program,
we provided administrative support
and a venue for tax preparation
sessions arranged by the Wisconsin
Department of Revenue.
Thank you volunteers!
The following individuals
generously donated a total
of 582 hours of their time to
provide this valuable service
to low-income residents.
Kirsten Bemowski
Gail Bergman Kathy Koegel
Julie Callahan David Lehane
Alina Dima
Shelley Meuer
Brian Elvert
Susan Ottmann
Aaron Greim
Larry Rubin
Marie Jolly
Julie Wegter
7
GOODWILL
of South Central Wisconsin, Inc.
1302 Mendota Street
Madison, WI 53714
Address Service Requested
Locations with a Store
and Donation Center
New Monthly
Specials
for Loyalty
Members
Members of our Rewards
customer loyalty program now
have more opportunities to
save on purchases made at our
neighborhood Goodwill stores.
Madison East 2127 East Springs Drive
Madison West 4530 Verona Road
Fitchburg 6291 McKee Road
Monona 2501 Royal Avenue
Fort Atkinson 1530 Madison Avenue
Platteville 2001 Progressive Parkway
• Every day is Military Day.
Loyalty members with a
military ID receive 10 percent
off their entire purchase
• Every Tuesday is Senior Day.
Loyalty members 55 or better
receive 10 percent off their
entire purchase
• Every Thursday is Student
Day. Loyalty members with a
student ID receive 10 percent off
their entire purchase
These savings are in addition to
our weekly color tag sale where
loyalty members receive 50
percent off on select clothing,
every Friday and Saturday!
Plus, loyalty members earn
points each and every time they
shop at our neighborhood retail
stores. Points can be redeemed
for valuable savings or exciting
merchandise.
Not a member of our Rewards
program? Visit goodwillscwi.org
to learn more and enroll!
Portage 2902 American Legion Drive
Richland Center 2496 US Hwy 14 East
Sun Prairie 2111 McCoy Road
Location with a Donation
Center Only
Middleton 6661 University Avenue
All permissible items except furniture
are accepted at this site.
Career Center
Fitchburg 6291 McKee Road
Home Office
Madison 1302 Mendota St.
www.goodwillscwi.org
Goodwill is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
This newsletter was printed using earth-friendly soy ink on U.S. made paper with a minimum 10% post-consumer recycled paper from responsibly managed forests.