America at 250: Honoring Our Past, Building Opportunity for the Future

By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International, Inc. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we have an opportunity to reflect on our history, reaffirm our shared values, and look ahead to the future we are building together. At Goodwill®, that future begins with opportunity. America’s 250th should be a moment to recommit to the promise that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. That promise is exactly what Goodwill has been advancing for nearly 125 years. Founded in 1902 by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, our organization was built on a simple but powerful idea: work creates dignity, pur