Pittsburgh, March 23, 2023 – Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania announced the winners of its 2023 Power of Work Awards, which honors businesses that are opening their doors and improving the lives of people with disabilities and/or other challenges by offering them work or work-related experiences. Selected from over 50 nominees, the winners are:
HIRE Category Winners
LaRosa Youth Club – LaRosa Youth Club (LYC) invests their time, treasure, and talent to provide first class enrichment opportunities to the youth of McKeesport, setting them on a successful path to adulthood. As an employer, LYC makes a conscience effort to recruit staff from the surrounding McKeesport community that is well diversified and is representative of their youth club membership. Responding to the McKeesport citizens who have fallen on hard times and are struggling financially, LYC has hired several single parents, providing training and career development while accommodating their work/life balance. The organization has created an environment that is productive and nurturing by enabling staff to bring their children to work and participate in the after-school program while they are working.
Sigal Development Services LLC – Sigal Development Services provides a range of consulting services focused on commercial development with a goal of providing a level of service and quality work product that results in efficient and attentive processes for every project they manage. Owner Jason Sigal of Sigal Development Services has worked with Goodwill staff to create a new paid work experience for an EARN program participant as they successfully transitioned into competitive employment. As the participant worked to secure housing and transportation, Sigal Development Services created a reliable and fluid schedule that consistently met the participant’s needs. When transportation was a major barrier, Sigal Development Services addressed the need by allowing the independence to work from home with employer-supplied technology and paying for Uber transportation to the office as needed. By supporting the participant and steadily increasing their scheduled hours to allow for her increasing responsibilities, Sigal Development Services has committed to providing a work environment that embraces participants with barriers and working with them as they navigate the challenges.
HELP Category Winner
Children and Adults Developmental Agency Programs, Inc. (CADAprograms) — The mission of CADAprograms is to provide meaningful educational, environmental, family sustainability, and food security opportunities to children, adults and families in a safe environment while revitalizing the community. The nonprofit works with the Office for Vocational Rehabilitation to recruit potential staff members and offer a supportive environment for all those with disabilities. All potential staff members with disabilities are given a support person, ongoing training to enhance comprehension, and competitive pay. They provide training and instruction that is repetitive to retain information and skills as needed and competitive pay is offered as well. Upon completing the 90-day program, eligible individuals are brought on as official staff members. CADAprograms is a safe haven for people of all abilities, identities and cultural backgrounds.
The winners of the 2023 Power of Work Awards will be honored at luncheon ceremony on April 21, 2023 at 12:00 pm. at the Sheraton Station Square hotel. Participating in the event, along with Goodwill clients and representatives of the winning organizations, will be honorary chairperson of the 2023 Power of Work Awards Kelly McCormick, Vice President, Global Talent Curation & Community Partnerships, Giant Eagle, Inc, and, and master of ceremonies Bill Flanagan, Special Advisor for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and host of “Our Region’s Business.”
This year’s Power of Work Awards ceremony marks the 26th anniversary of the recognition program. Goodwill created the Power of Work Awards program in 1997 to acknowledge employers and organizations that make a major, positive impact on the lives of people with barriers to employment by providing employment opportunities and support programs. Over 60 different employers and organizations have won the award throughout its history.
Those interested sponsoring or attending the event can visit www.goodwillswpa.org/powerofwork. Sponsors are also welcome through March 31. For questions about the Power of Work Awards contact Elaine Malcolm at 412-632-1931 or powerofwork@goodwillswpa.org.