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Goodwill vouchers

Goodwill Manasota to distribute vouchers, gift cards to those impacted by Hurricane Ian

SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – A generous donation of $1M from Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Bank & Trust Company, and the Milstein Family will be used - in partnership with Goodwill Manasota - to assist community members impacted by Hurricane Ian. Of the $1M contribution, Goodwill Manasota will receive $750,000 and the remaining $250,000 will be directed to the state’s Florida Disaster Fund.


Goodwill will distribute gift cards as well as Goodwill vouchers to the individuals and families served by the more than 70 existing partners of Goodwill’s emergency assistance voucher program. The gift cards can be redeemed at Publix, Walmart and Wawa for food and gas; the Goodwill Manasota vouchers can be redeemed for clothing, household items, and furniture.


Goodwill Manasota’s Community Resource Center locations, where these gift cards and vouchers will be distributed to referred individuals/families, will include its Corporate Campus (2715 51st Ave. E., Bradenton), Rialto (676 S. Tamiami Tr., Venice), Arcadia (1701 E. Oak St.) and, once the store there reopens, North Port (14879 Tamiami Tr.). 


“For many of our residents, as well as the organizations we lead, the impact of this historical storm will have far-reaching and long-term effects,” said Donn Githens, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “A willingness to work together in the spirit of collaboration is one of our greatest strengths and will ensure our successful recovery from this challenge. We are so grateful to the Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Bank & Trust Company, and the Milstein Family for their incredible generosity, which will help community members who have been affected by Hurricane Ian.” 


For years, Goodwill Manasota has offered emergency assistance to community residents who are in need by providing clothing and essential household items through its emergency assistance voucher program. Whether it is a family that has survived a fire, a child entering the foster care system, a social service client entering transitional housing, or a job seeker without attire suitable for an impending job interview, Goodwill is there with the resources to help them get back on their feet and on the path to better days. This is possible due to the support of the local community through their donations, shopping, or charitable financial contributions.


For more information about how to receive assistance, call Goodwill Manasota’s Community Resource Hotline (888-230-8820) or visit our website: experiencegoodwill.org.


Donation continues Milstein Family’s long history of community support 


The donation by New York Private Bank & Trust Company (NYPB&T) and the Milstein family continues a legacy of providing relief in the wake of natural disasters and other emergencies. The Milstein family owns NYPB&T and its operating bank, Emigrant—the largest family owned and operated banking institution in the United States. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Howard Milstein is Chairman and CEO of NYPB&T and Emigrant.


In 2012, the bank donated $2.3 million to first responders who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy. In 2005, Emigrant Bank made a donation to its customers in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina, with approximately $1 million in funds deposited directly into their accounts. At the height of the COVID pandemic in early 2021, Emigrant donated a supply of more than one million N95 masks to hospitals and first responders. In response to 9/11, the Milsteins made available hotel rooms, rest areas, supplies, and funding for post-traumatic counseling for first responders and their families. It also provided a staging area for rescue operations along with logistical support to evacuate downtown residents from Ground Zero.


Along with prominent families, institutions and investors in the Sarasota area, the Milstein family is also co-owner of Sarasota Private Trust Company.


PHOTO ID: With a referral from a partner organization, community members in need can receive vouchers for clothing, household items, and furniture from team members such as Jill Shroyer (right), a Goodwill Manasota career development facilitator


About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill assists people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.

Additional Info

Media Contact : Sharon Kunkel

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