GREEN BAY – Goodwill North Central Wisconsin (NCW) held its fourth annual Goodwill Starts With You! Gala event Wednesday, October 7. The evening brought together community members and local leaders in the Atrium at Lambeau Field to celebrate the lives changed through Goodwill NCW’s mission, thanks to our communities’ generous donations that power possibilities and transform lives. Inspiring stories and data showing the impact Goodwill NCW has on the communities it serves were shared throughout the evening.

A highlight of the evening was the celebration of three individuals who have benefited from Goodwill NCW’s employment programs and embody its mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment. Each shared their stories of perseverance and were introduced to attendees as this year’s:

• Achiever of the Year: Nicole Brundidge
• Graduate of the Year: Maribel Contreras
• Veteran of the Year: Tad Pufall

“What makes Nicole, Maribel and Tad’s stories so powerful is that they are our mission in action,” said President and CEO of Goodwill NCW, Chris Hess. “Each of them overcame a set of barriers in pursuit of their employment goals. Through their own determination and with the support of our programs, they broke through. We are inspired by what they have accomplished, and we are proud to honor them.”

Nicole: Nicole’s path to Goodwill NCW was shaped by years of hardship, including addiction, involvement with the justice system and the hard work of rebuilding a life after incarceration. Finding steady work, housing and a way through her community service was difficult until she connected with Goodwill NCW and found support that fit her situation. Leadership noticed her drive, and she rose from cashier to assistant store team lead. Coaching sharpened her leadership and communication skills, and Financial Wellness Services taught her to budget, plan ahead and build long-term stability. This year, Nicole secured housing, bought a vehicle and took her very first vacation.

Maribel: Maribel grew up surrounded by instability and abuse, and those hardships followed her into adulthood. She came to Wisconsin from California with very little, building a home for her children while facing isolation, financial hardship and cultural barriers. She also endured the loss of a child while visiting family in Mexico. Still, Maribel stayed determined to build a better future for her family, enrolling in the Early Childhood Education program through Goodwill NCW’s Career EXCELerate® pathway. During her training, regular check-ins kept her on track and one-on-one coaching strengthened her résumé, interviewing and workplace skills. Maribel’s journey continues as she remains employed as an educator within the Menasha Joint School District, while working toward her associate degree in early childhood education.

Tad: After serving in the U.S. Army, Tad struggled to find structure in civilian life. In 2022, a major health setback left him hospitalized, and his money, laptop and other belongings were stolen. Isolated, he found it hard to trust anyone. Then came a turning point. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs partnered with the Tomah Goodwill store on a paid 12-week training program. Tad shared his goals with Goodwill NCW: building skills, obtaining a job again and regaining his financial independence. With support from Goodwill NCW, he grew confident in his work tasks and with customer interactions and was offered a permanent position, which he accepted. Today, Tad has a home, travels and enjoys pastimes like singing karaoke in downtown Tomah.

In the spirit of the theme of the event, “Powering Possibilities,” the Goodwill NCW invites the community to support the organization in the following ways:

Hold a donation drive at your place of business:
Donation Drive – Goodwill NCW

Make a financial gift:
Financial Donation | Goodwill NCW

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