Dawson County proclaims April 2 "Goodwill of North Georgia Day"

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation on April 2 declaring April 2, 2026, as Goodwill of North Georgia Day in recognition of the nonprofit's 100 years of service.

The proclamation, read into the record by the presiding official, noted Goodwill of North Georgia operates 71 retail stores and 14 career centers regionally and that in Dawson County specifically the organization runs one retail location, one career center and an attended donation center in Dawsonville. The text recorded that Goodwill employs more than 3,500 team members, diverts more than 40,000,000 pounds of material from landfills annually, and has welcomed millions of guests and donors over its century of service.

"On behalf of our president and CEO, Keith Parker, our executive team, and all 3,500 team members of Goodwill of North Georgia, we'd just like to say thank you for this recognition," Tranise Lyons, director of communications and customer engagement at Goodwill of North Georgia, said after the proclamation was read. Lyons said the Dawsonville Career Center has been a focus of her work and expressed appreciation for the county's recognition.

A motion to approve the proclamation was made and seconded; the board recorded the approval as 3-0. Commissioners and Goodwill representatives gathered for a brief photograph following the vote.

The proclamation and brief remarks frame Goodwill's local workforce-development role and the organization's regional footprint. The board then moved on to the invocation and other regular agenda business.