Scholarship fund to help Goodwill employees earn GED grows with donations

BRADENTON -- A fund started by Fawley Bryant Architects is designed to ensure more Manasota Goodwill employees earn a GED, which will help them work toward their career goals.

At a recent Goodwill Manasota Legacy luncheon, Mike Bryant, President of Fawley Bryant Architects, presented a $25,000 check to Goodwill for the Rick and Coni Fawley Scholarship Fund. The $25,000 represents the initial installment of $50,000 pledge by the firm and its employees.

After the passing of Coni Fawley in February 2015 and Rick Fawley in September 2015, the fund was created to honor their legacy and help Goodwill team members advance their educational growth.

Of the more than 800 supporting employees of Goodwill, 20 percent do not have a high school diploma, according to officials. The fund currently holds a total of $36,720, which will be divided for employee enrollment for the next few years. Veronica Miller, Vice President of Goodwill Manasota, said they are capping this year's enrollment at 75 employees so they can allocate the funds over time. This year's applicants will begin the GED course by taking an assessment to help identify the areas that they need to strengthen. Each employee will take the course at his or her own pace and receive one-on-one time with instructor Richard Herring, who is provided to the program by Manatee Technical College.

Employees will be able to take the course on-site at their Goodwill store, and will receive regular pay during classes.

In addition to Fawley Bryant's $25,000 donation, $10,465 has been donated by 22 individual donors.

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This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Scholarship fund to help Goodwill employees earn GED grows with donations ."