Oct 22, 2020
KeyBank Foundation Gives $62,500 to Goodwill of the Finger Lakes for 211/LIFE LINE Contact Center. Donation is part of $250,000 pledge over four years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Goodwill of the Finger Lakes has been a leading not-for-profit in the Greater Rochester area for over a century and has truly risen to the occasion to support and empower its community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded, managed and owned by Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, 211/LIFE LINE has responded to nearly 70,000 community calls for support, like food, housing and mental health in the past seven months.
To help meet the community’s growing needs, KeyBank Foundation pledged $250,000 over four years and has recently approved one of its installments of $62,500 to support Goodwill’s 211/LIFE LINE, led by Director Deborah Turner. These funds will support the program’s operational expenses so it can continue to answer every single call and inquiry from the Rochester community.
“We have had over 69,000 from community members who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic since March,” Goodwill of the Finger Lakes CEO Jennifer Lake said. “At this time last year, we had less than 26,000 calls. Sometimes it’s putting dinner on the table for a family in partnership with Foodlink. Other times, it’s helping pay next month’s rent so they aren’t evicted. We’ve heard so many different stories, and it paints a very serious picture of what’s happening in Rochester. We’re here for them. We listen and hopefully make life a little easier.”
211/LIFE LINE serves as the connector to important services for the Rochester community, like food, mental health support and shelter. Working with the United Way of Greater Rochester, Foodlink, Ibero-American Action League, Catholic Family Center, Monroe County and City of Rochester and so many others.
The Goodwill team is working 24/7 to answer every call, text and inquiry, Lake said, and to connect people with the resources they need.
“The support that Goodwill of the Finger Lakes provides to this community through its 211/ LIFE LINE is crucial, especially due to the challenges many are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Phil Muscato, KeyBank Rochester Market President. “We are committed to helping this program succeed with this funding, enabling Goodwill to continue to respond to those who need help during this difficult time.”
“We are so grateful to donors like KeyBank Foundation,” Lake said. “We recognize this is a very difficult time for funding, and Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is not the only organization trying to raise funds to be sustainable. When you shop at or donate to Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, you’re helping our community. You’re helping our 211/LIFE LINE. You’re helping the greater community in a time when we all need it the most.”
Started in 1998, the Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Contact Center created challenging and rewarding career opportunities for people who are blind, visually impaired or face other barriers to employment. Today, the Contact Center is inclusive and employs people with disabilities and veterans. Approximately one-third of 211’s Contact Center employees have a disclosed disability.
For more information on Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, visit goodwillfingerlakes.org. For more information on its 211/LIFE LINE program, visit goodwillfingerlakes.org/services/211-life-line.
ABOUT GOODWILL OF THE FINGER LAKES
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes prepares and empowers people with barriers to independence to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes’ mission programs, 211/LIFE LINE and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) have a very long and successful history of providing services to our region. The organization’s more than 600 employees use their passion and expertise to find innovative solutions to address pressing social needs. Each year, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes positively impacts the lives of more than 240,000 people. For more information, please visit goodwillfingerlakes.org.
ABOUT KEYBANK
KeyBank's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $171.2 billion at June 30, 2020. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,000 branches and more than 41,000 KeyBank ATMs and Allpoint surcharge free ATMs for many customers when using a KeyBank debit card nationwide. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.