Palmetto Goodwill celebrates Goodwill Week with Shining Stars event, community impact milestones, and regional events
April 29, 2026
Palmetto Goodwill will celebrate Goodwill Week with events across its 18-county service area, spotlighting the organization’s role in workforce development, economic mobility and community impact.
The weeklong observance will include hiring events, community resource events, the release of the organization’s 2025 Community Impact Report, and the annual Shining Stars Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show.
As highlighted in Palmetto Goodwill’s 2025 Community Impact Report, the organization generated $310 million in statewide economic impact, supported 1,461 in-house jobs, and helped create $116.7 million in new labor income across the communities it serves. The report also shows Palmetto Goodwill placed 4,215 people into jobs, served more than 16,000 individuals through community programs, resources and support, and diverted 36.5 million pounds of items from landfills.
“Goodwill Week is an opportunity to show what happens after someone donates a bag of clothing or shops in one of our stores,” said Brian Itzkowitz, president and CEO of Palmetto Goodwill. “Those everyday actions help fund job training, education, career services and other programs that move people toward greater stability and opportunity. This year’s impact numbers show that our mission is local, measurable and life-changing.”
A centerpiece of Goodwill Week will be Palmetto Goodwill’s 2026 Shining Stars Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show, taking place Wednesday, May 6, in North Charleston. The annual event celebrates individuals who have overcome barriers and achieved success through Palmetto Goodwill’s training, education and employment programs. The luncheon will include award recognitions, personal impact stories and a fashion show featuring local personalities modeling looks styled with items from Palmetto Goodwill stores.
This year’s Shining Stars event will also recognize three state legislators — South Carolina State Senator Deon Tedder (District 42), State Representative Harriet Holman (House District 102), and State Representative Courtney Waters (House District 113) — with the Legislator Champion Award, honoring their outstanding leadership and unwavering advocacy for the Excel Center, and advancing Palmetto Goodwill’s mission of changing lives by providing equitable access to training, education and employment.
Throughout Goodwill Week, Palmetto Goodwill will also host events across the region to connect individuals with jobs, resources and community support. Featured events include:
Tuesday, May 5
Multi-Industry Employer Hiring Event (Multi-Vendor Career Fair)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Palmetto Goodwill Headquarters, 2150 Eagle Drive, North Charleston, 29406
Wednesday, May 6
Shining Stars Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
North Charleston, S.C.
More information: palmettogoodwill.org/shiningstars2026/
Thursday, May 7
Pee Dee Region Job Fair and Resource Event
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
904 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150
Saturday, May 9
Thrift Crawl – Grand Strand
More information and tickets: palmettogoodwill.org/thrift-crawl
These events, along with many others happening throughout Goodwill Week, reflect Palmetto Goodwill’s mission to change lives by providing equitable access to training, education and employment. A full list of upcoming events can be found at: palmettogoodwill.org/events.
About Palmetto Goodwill
Palmetto Goodwill, founded in 1979, is a local nonprofit workforce development organization changing lives through equitable access to training, education, and employment. We serve 18 counties across South Carolina with 1,400 team members, operating 33 retail stores and donation centers, 11 Career Opportunity Centers, and 14 commercial and government contracts. Donations and retail sales fund job training and career services that connect people to opportunity. In 2025, we served more than 16,000 individuals and connected more than 4,200 people to employment. Palmetto Goodwill is one of South Carolina’s largest employers of people with disabilities and holds GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. 91 cents of every dollar supports programs and services.
Palmetto Goodwill
2150 Eagle Drive, North Charleston, SC 29406
palmettogoodwill.org.
