Cody Tovar
Cody Tovar began his journey at Goodwill as a teenage volunteer. He knew the Goodwill could give him the tools he needed to pursue a career in Information Technology. He started working as a technician with the company’s Computer Works program, which sold electronic devices and offered computer repair services, eventually transferring to their E-Commerce […]
Michele Herrera
Michele Herrera had it all. A career, a home, a family, and a great life. Once chance encounter with a ghost from her past sent reeling down a terrible cycle of drug addiction and incarceration that caused her to lose everything. After losing custody of her two youngest children, Michele knew that she would need […]
Ashley Mabey
When Ashley Mabey first came to Goodwill, she was unsure of her place there. Ashley was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome at birth, a rare, neurological disorder that affects cognitive development and increases the risk of seizures. Today, she is flourishing in the S.T.A.R.S. program. S.T.A.R.S. stands for skills training achieves results and is an individualized […]
Mark Fishback
For more than 35 years, Mark Fishback has empowered adults with disabilities with a passion for his community while leading a rockstar life. Mark began his career with Goodwill under CEO Bernard Kern in 1986 as the manager of Goodwill’s sheltered workshop, where he managed employees with multiple and significant disabilities as they worked on […]
Lisa Lewis
When her daughter went away to college, Lisa Lewis thought she had the perfect life. She soon found out that her husband was battling a drug addiction and racking up debt on their charge cards. After putting him in rehab, a subsequent relapse and the death of her husband, Lisa misguidedly used her company’s accounts […]
Mae Smith
Few people express as much love and gratitude as Mae Smith, a participant in Goodwill’s S.T.A.R.S. program. Mae was diagnosed with failure to thrive at birth, which causes slow physical development and puts individuals at risk for behavioral problems and developmental delays. When Mae first came to Goodwill, she was very reserved and often had […]
Charlie Rutherford
For more than 25 years Charles “Charlie” Rutherford has brought joy to Goodwill North Central Texas. Charlie, son of U.S. Congressman and Texas State Representative and Senator J.T. Rutherford, was born with Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD) and currently lives in Denton. Charlie has been an active member of the community, taking part in Special Olympics […]
Beth Reneau
When people ask Beth about her story she often states that there’s no clear-cut ending, but she knows where it began. After years of addiction and homelessness, Beth made the decision to leave her three children in her brother’s care. She could not be the mother that she knew they needed her to […]
Sean Shea
Sean Shea enjoys the simple things. He likes good food, music and spending time with friends and family. But much like his favorite music artists, Sean’s personality is larger than life. Sean was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth, and later Mild Intellectual Disability Disorder. After moving in with his sister and brother-in-law in 2008, […]
Guadalupe Torres
Guadalupe Torres is very much like any other 21-year-old young lady. She loves dancing, singing, watching TV and spending her summers swimming. She is interested in all things beauty and has aspirations of being a cosmetologist. She doesn’t think twice about her disability, and why should she? Guadalupe was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at […]