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About Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin

Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. opened in Madison in 1962 as a division of the Milwaukee Goodwill. First located in the basement of an old A&P store located on Wingra Drive, the Madison division separated from the Milwaukee Goodwill and incorporated as Goodwill Industries of Madison, Inc.  in January, 1971. Nine years later, that name was changed to Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. to more accurately reflect our growing reach.

We currently serve a 14-county territory: Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Marquette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk.

Part of the Goodwill Industries global network, Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin offers these counties a variety of unique programs designed to meet local needs.

 

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, then trained the poor and immigrant to mend and repair the used goods. These items were either resold or given away to the people who needed them, and so the Goodwill philosophy of “a hand up, not charity” was born.

 

Goodwill Industries today

Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin is part of Goodwill Industries International, a network of 207 community-based, autonomous member organizations in the United States, Canada, and 22 other countries. Through their services, this network helps people overcome barriers to employment and become independent, tax-paying members of their communities. While every organization serves people with disabilities and other challenges, each Goodwill identifies and responds to the needs of their local community.

Since the organization’s founding in 1902, Goodwill has helped nearly 6 million people.

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