Goodwill Announces Angling Team and Partnership with FLW Outdoors
MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 28, 2009) — Goodwill Industries International announced today a partnership with FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading tournament-fishing organization. As part of the Walmart FLW Tour and Walmart FLW Series, professional award-winning anglers Chad Grigsby and Wesley Strader will represent Goodwill® at various events across the country beginning today at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla. Goodwill Industries® will collect donations at each FLW Tour event to be sold in its retail stores.
Goodwill, which has more than 2,200 retail stores throughout the United States and Canada, will have the opportunity to use the resources of FLW Outdoors to drive traffic and awareness to its locations and benefit local communities by helping people find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from earning a paycheck.
Goodwill will be collecting new or gently used clothing donations at each FLW Tour event in order to fund its mission of providing employment training for people who have physical, mental or emotional disabilities; who lack education or job experience; as well as anyone else who needs job assistance.
“Goodwill Industries International’s partnership with FLW Outdoors is the first of its kind,” said Jim Gibbons, President and CEO for Goodwill Industries International. “Goodwill will capitalize on the marketing strength of FLW Outdoors and the generosity and support of its fans and partners in order to continue our vital mission of providing job training programs for those who need it most.”
“The partnership between FLW Outdoors and Goodwill demonstrates the willingness of both organizations to find an avenue to help benefit our community,” said Irwin L. Jacobs, Chairman of FLW Outdoors. “We are extremely proud of this venture and look forward to a long-standing relationship to assist Goodwill Industries in enhancing the lives of tens of thousands of people each year.”
Grigsby, a seven-year veteran of the FLW Tour, and Strader, an angler who has participated on the FLW Tour for 12 seasons, will represent the international nonprofit organization.
“I am humbled to be selected as one of two anglers to represent Goodwill,” said Grigsby. “Goodwill creates a lot of employment opportunities both nationally and internationally and I, along with Wesley, will represent Goodwill to the best of our abilities.”
Goodwill has never ventured into the sponsorship world of sports marketing. FLW Outdoors, a world leader in tournament fishing and sports marketing, continues to set precedence with this new partnership. FLW Outdoors was also the first organization to be sponsored by the world’s largest retailer and company, Walmart.
