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Goodwill Industries International (GII) is pleased to recognize the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (Little Rock), along with seven members of Congress, as the recipients of its annual advocacy awards. The awards identify efforts to advance the nonprofit organization's mission of helping people build careers and gain employment.

The honorees were announced on Wednesday, April 5, during a reception at the U.S. Capitol, as part of Goodwill's annual advocacy event.

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas President and CEO Brian Itzkowitz received the 2017 GII Advocacy Leader Award. As a leader in the community, he successfully advocated for the passage of a bill to establish adult education charter schools in Arkansas. An estimated 18 percent of Arkansas adults are without high school diplomas. The state ranks last in the nation among states for the percentage of adults who continue their education into post-secondary training. As a result of Itzkowitz's efforts, the Excel Center® at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas will become the first charter school of its kind in the state, enabling adults ages 19 and older to return to school and earn their high school diplomas.

Members of Congress who received GII's National Policymaker Awards include:

• Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) for supporting Goodwill and the AbilityOne mission.
• Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) for listening to and advocating for individuals with disabilities in their attempts to find work.
• Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) for his efforts to battle poverty in his home state.
• Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) for his innovative efforts to bring and keep good-paying jobs in North Texas.
• Rep John Larson (D-CT) for his ongoing work to enhance job creation through federal programs.
• Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for his longstanding advocacy for Virginians with employment challenges.
• Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) for his 30-year track record of supporting the needs of Oregon's workers.

Each award winner was nominated by a local Goodwill organization and chosen by the Public Policy Committee of the GII Board of Directors.