Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin Inc.

About Goodwill

The beginning of the Goodwill Movement

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston's South End by Dr. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister. He collected used household items and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, and then trained the poor and immigrants to mend and repair the used goods. The items were resold or were given to the people who needed them, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not charity" was born.

Goodwill Worldwide

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 207 community-based, autonomous member organizations in the United States, Canada, and 22 other countries. Each organization serves people with disabilities and other special needs. Through its services, the network helps people overcome barriers to employment and become independent, tax-paying members of their communities. Since the organization's founding in 1902, Goodwill has helped nearly 6 million people. Each Goodwill organization identifies the needs of the their local community and designs services and programs to respond to those needs.

Our History

Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. opened in Madison in 1962 as a division of the Milwaukee Goodwill. At that time we were located in the basement of an old A&P store located on Wingra Drive. In January 1971 the Madison division separated from the Milwaukee Goodwill and incorporated as Goodwill Industries of Madison, Inc. In June 1980 our corporate name changed to Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. to more accurately reflect our 14-county territory: Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Marquette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk.