City of Omaha Mayor’s Office

March 22, 2012 - Good360, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, March 22 to commemorate the grand opening of the organization’s new National Distribution and Sorting Center. The international nonprofit organization consolidated several warehouses where it stores and fulfills product donations for thousands of charities into the new location at 6200 North 16th Street in Omaha, Nebraska.

Special guests attending the ceremony included:

- The Honorable Dave Heineman, governor of Nebraska
- The Honorable Jim Suttle, mayor of Omaha
- David Brown, president and CEO of Greater Omaha Chamber
- Terry McMullen, president of Cargo Zone LLC
- Mikel Durham, global growth officer of PepsiCo & vice chair of Good360
- Cindy Hallberlin, president and CEO of Good360

In January, with the support of The UPS Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation, Good360 finalized the consolidation of its sorting and distribution operations in Omaha. In an effort to streamline its supply-chain and reduce the cost of logistics, product donations, previously stored in 12 different cities throughout the United States and Canada, were combined to optimize the return to their nonprofit member network and donor companies.

“Nebraska has always been an important center for transportation and logistics, and now it is at the center of the charitable supply chain as well,” said Good360 chief operating officer Kevin Hagan. “Our consolidation has substantially cut down the time and resources needed to support nonprofits that provide important safety net programs in communities across the country.”

Cargo Zone LLC, an existing Good360 warehouse partner located in Omaha, has enabled Good360 to receive, sort, package and ship donations, all from one facility. The centralized sorting and distribution center provides increased transportation advantages for both Good360 and its donors, the opportunity for Good360 to handle customer and vendor returns through their newly expanded reverse logistics capabilities and yields a wider charitable impact for every donation made to Good360.

The new sorting center provides valuable training opportunities and situational work experiences for participants from ResCare Workforce Services, an Employment First program funded by the state of Nebraska and designed to meet the goals of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families legislation. This legislation provides monies for low-income families with children and affords them valuable opportunities to gain workplace skills, experience and training with the goal of finding and maintaining gainful employment. ResCare allows Good360 to cut the cost of distribution, and thus save money for its growing network of almost 26,000 nonprofits.

“We are fortunate to have this nationally recognized nonprofit choose Omaha as the site to consolidate its business services and develop its new distribution center,” said Mayor Jim Suttle. “I applaud Good360 for identifying the benefits Omaha offers businesses and using those benefits to improve their operation. We welcome Good360 to our community.”

“Things get done in Greater Omaha through strong public-private partnerships and the philanthropic and charitable commitments of its citizens and corporations. It just seems fitting that Omaha would then be selected as the new distribution hub of the international leader of product philanthropy,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber. “Our location at the transportation crossroads of North America continues to foster business growth and expansion.”

About Good360
Consistently ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the 10 most cost-efficient charities in America, Good360 (formerly Gifts In Kind International) is dedicated to helping people and communities by distributing new corporate product donations to qualified nonprofits. These include nonperishables, such as apparel, books, toys, personal care products, office and school supplies, building supplies, computers and much more. On behalf of several Fortune 100 consumer, retail and technology companies, Good360 distributes products to a network of thousands of pre-vetted organizations. This year the organization plans to launch the inaugural version of its online donation marketplace.

Mayor Suttle and Cindy Hallberlin, President and CEO of Good360 talking to workers at Good360's new National Distribution and Sorting Center

Mayor Suttle, Jim Farho President of Youth Emergency Services, Weston Thompson of Kent Bellows Studios Announce a New Collaboration Spear-headed by Omaha Serves

March 16, 2012 – This morning, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle joined representatives of Youth Emergency Services and the Kent Bellows Studio to announce a new partnership aimed at increasing public service, building community pride, and providing disadvantaged youth with valuable career skills.

The program places homeless and at-risk youth with area non-profit organizations, allowing them to gain valuable work skills while improving their community. This spring they will be designing and painting murals throughout the community in conjunction with the Kent Bellows Studio. “This is a great way to teach our at risk youth valuable skills, while increase community engagement and combating graffiti,” said Mayor Suttle.

In addition to the Kent Bellows Studio, the Neighborhood Center has also signed on to be a partner in the project.

“Omaha Serves is about creating and promoting partnerships in our City to lift people out of poverty. We are excited and delighted that Youth Emergency Services will be working with neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations to empower at –risk youth to use their skills and passions to lift up not only themselves but our community at large,” added Craig Howell, Omaha’s Chief Service Officer.

“I want to thank the City for being so quick to assist us in this effort, “ said Jim Farho, President of Youth Emergency Services. “This is about providing hope for the disadvantaged youth in our community.”