Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA is honored at the announcement today that a former Goodwill skills training participant has been named as the Goodwill Industries International 2015 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year.

Archie Gibbs, a Middle Georgia resident and co-owner of Coleman’s Cleaning Service, will receive the award from GII during its annual Delegate Assembly in July. As its local award winner, Gibbs also will receive recognition from Goodwill of Middle Georgia during its Goodwill Week employee meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at the Anderson Conference Center, 5171 Eisenhower Parkway.

Gibbs, who previously was named Graduate of the Year for Goodwill of Middle Georgia in 1998, has a remarkable life story that he describes as being “as long as the yellow brick road.” He awoke at age 7 to discover he had no hearing in his left ear and minimal hearing in his right ear. He then entered foster care at age 12 after he and his siblings were abused by his mother’s boyfriend, and stayed in the foster system through his teens.

Gibbs worked multiple jobs during high school and after graduation planned to attend college, but was forced to drop out because of lack of money and transportation. On foot, Gibbs arrived at Goodwill’s downtown Macon career center on Broadway and entered Goodwill’s custodial training program.

Gibbs was named Graduate of the Year the following year, and later with the city of Macon was named Exemplary Employee of the Year. He and his wife now operate their own business providing residential and commercial cleaning, painting, landscape maintenance and other services.

In addition to recognizing Gibbs for his award, several local winners also will receive recognition during the employee meetings, including honors for Carlyle Place as Goodwill Community Partner of the Year.

Goodwill Week is celebrated each year during the first week of May, and includes employee recognition and community outreach through job fairs. This year, those job fairs include one set for 1-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Dublin Goodwill Job Connection, 2005 Veterans Blvd.

To learn more about the international recognition of Goodwill Week, go to www.goodwill.org/week. To arrange coverage of Archie Gibbs and his international recognition, contact Goodwill Marketing Director Vicki Mills at (478) 475-9995, or [email protected].