Paul Esparza
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Before his stroke, Paul Esparza was a successful business owner, husband and father of two. His wife described him as being constantly on the move and often stressed. Then five years ago, Paul suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.
“After the stroke, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move,” he says. “I could barely remember my name and my kids’ names.”
When Paul first started in the Work Adjustment Training program at Goodwill, he noticed a dramatic difference.
“Just having a place to go to each day again helped me,” he says. “I worked every day to relearn things because I knew that I had to be there for my family.”
Paul credits Goodwill with helping him get to where he is today.
“Without Goodwill, I would never have been able to find my job [at GameDay Industries],” he says. “Goodwill acted like my second voice when I couldn’t speak up because of my stroke. Without their help I never would be where I am today.”
Rubi Najera
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Rubi was born with only half of her left arm. Because Rubi was born missing part of her limb, she learned to perform most daily living activities as a child, but the only work she was able to find as an adult was either staying at home caring for children or cleaning others homes.
“Having a job is a future for my kids and for me,” she says. “I want to be a good example for my kids. I want to do something else with my life, I don’t want to be like this only.”
But because of her disability, Rubi could not find or keep work. In July of 2012 Rubi was started in the Work Adjustment Training (WAT) program at Goodwill. Rubi credits Goodwill with her success and her future possibilities.
“Goodwill changed my life because when I got to Goodwill I figured out that it doesn’t matter if I have a disability,” she says. “Thank you to Goodwill for this training so I can find a job and build my future for my kids and for me.”
Jerry Gregory
Watch Jerry Gregory, a 52 year employee of Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, tell his own story about how Goodwill has impacted his life. CLICK HERE to see Jerry's story.
Tim Overstreet
CLICK HERE to learn how Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth impacted Tim's life, in his own words.
Sharon Huber
Learn how Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth impacted Sharon's life, in her own words. CLICK HERE to watch her tell her story.