Team Member from Goodwill’s Veterans’ Program Honored
Veterans Services Program career development facilitator Jeremiah Robinson presented with ‘Hero of the Month’ award
(From l-r) Roger McGuire Jr., Jeremiah Robinson and and Janine Morris during the award presentation
SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – Jeremiah Robinson, a career development facilitator with Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program, was recently honored with the “Hero of the Month” award. Janine Morris, Realtor Associate with Fine Properties, and Roger McGuire, Branch Manager with Success Mortgage Partners, Inc., visited with the Veterans Services Program team and presented Robinson with his award, recognizing his extraordinary service on behalf of veterans.
Morris and McGuire present the award each month to recognize local heroes who go above and beyond to help others. A volunteer nominated Robinson for the honor.
Robinson, who has been working with Goodwill since August of 2018, is responsible for client intake, referral to service providers, and case management. He also helps with community outreach with other local veterans’ organizations and assists with updating the Goodwill Manasota Veterans Resource Guide.
After his graduation from Lakeland High School, Robinson served in the Marine Corps, from 1999-2003. He was a Supply Chain Manager, achieving the rank of Sergeant/E-5. A few years after his discharge, Robinson received his AA degree in Hotel Management. He went through hard times and became homeless but received help through the Homeless Empowerment Program in Clearwater. Still, he earned his AS degree in Tourism from St. Petersburg College in 2015 and then enrolled at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Hospitality.
While working on his degree, he served as a benefits counselor for USF Sarasota-Manatee, helping more than 200 student veterans to obtain GI Bill benefits each semester as well as building community relationships with donors and mentors to ensure student success on campus, and advocating on behalf of the veteran student population. He also began volunteering with Goodwill’s Veterans Services Program at this time; he was hired by Goodwill on the very same day that he graduated.
The challenges Robinson continues to struggle with only serve to motivate him more as he works to help area veterans.
“Even though I suffer from anxiety and depression due to PTSD, I try to continue my fight to help others who are willing to give it a second go-round because life is not fair,” Robinson said. “I lost a couple of buddies when I was in the service and out of the service – it has made things difficult yet it gives me a reason to fight harder for myself and other veterans.”
“Goodwill Manasota is committed to honoring and contributing to the lives of the men and women who serve and have served our country,” added Margie Genter, vice president of mission services. “We are so proud of Jeremiah for his well-deserved recognition and offer our gratitude to Homes for Heroes for the important work they do in helping American heroes enjoy the dream of home ownership.”
Launched in 2013, Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program was created to help eliminate barriers to employment, provide opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families, and connect veterans with needed social services. For more information about the Veterans Services Program, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721, ext. 451.
About Goodwill Manasota Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist 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 www.experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.
