Goodwill executive helping Haiti

The Goodwill franchises on the Gulf Coast continue to foster reputations as doers in difficult times.

The latest proof: Goodwill Industries Manasota, with more than a dozen branches in Sarasota and Manatee counties, is on the verge of launching a sorting operation in Haiti, says the Rev. Don Roberts, president and CEO of the nonprofit.

The unit would generate fees for Goodwill Manasota. But it could be a big boost for Haiti, which has struggled to overcome the massive earthquake that hit the country early this year.

Roberts says the Haiti move stems from his belief that Goodwill Manasota must diversity to support its main mission: To find jobs for people who would otherwise be unemployed. That includes a performance-based tutoring service for Goodwills nationwide, where Roberts and his staff have helped other Goodwills in return for a percentage of future revenues. (See Business Review, June 11, 2009)

“Then Haiti came along as a place in critical need of jobs,” Roberts tells Coffee Talk. “And we know how to create jobs.”

Roberts joins Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida President and CEO Tom Feurig in creating innovative ways to diversify revenue streams, such as new businesses and offices, especially when he can get a market-driven real estate deal.

The Haiti mission would be a first for any U.S.-run Goodwill, says Roberts. Roberts envisions a grading-sorting operation in Port Au Prince. Through sales of the clothes sorted there, Roberts projects Goodwill-Haiti can be at $10 million in revenues and employ 400-500 people within its first two years.

Goodwill Manasota, meanwhile, would be the broker between other domestic Goodwills and the one in Haiti. That would create another revenue stream for the local Goodwill, which had about $27 million in sales last year.

Still, the Goodwill-Haiti project has one significant hurdle to overcome before any sales or jobs are created: Financing. Roberts says it would cost about $3.5 million to lease a facility in Haiti and up to $11 million to buy one.

Roberts and some Goodwill officials have already begun to seek funds. Roberts, for example, recently traveled to New York City to meet with Clinton Foundation officials, who oversee more than $5 billion in aid to Haiti. USAID officials are also interested in the concept.

Roberts' first trip to Haiti was eye opening.

“The surreal experience,” says Roberts, “was coming back to Sarasota-Manatee and pretending this was normal.”