Goodwill Honors Halpern with Leadership Award

Kirk Halpern’s work ethic is legendary. Not only is he committed to his own work force at Farmers & Fishermen, but also deeply engaged in volunteerism and helping Goodwill of North Georgia educate individuals on how to succeed and prosper. His values are built on what’s good for the community, providing goodwill for those in need and us all.

It’s no surprise that Goodwill of North Georgia, the leading Goodwill organization for connecting job seekers with employment opportunities, is proud to announce that Kirk, a longtime advocate and leader within the organization and community, will be honored with the inaugural Community Leadership Award. This prestigious award will be presented at the upcoming Goodwill of North Georgia 2024 Battle of the BIZ! Gala on Oct. 26 at Flourish. As Goodwill’s only annual fundraising event, funds raised at the gala provide career training in high-demand fields, job placement services, and job retention support at zero cost to the jobseeker. Guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, a silent auction and great company while they raise critical funds for their career readiness programs as Halpern receives his meaningful award.

During Halpern’s 12-year tenure on the Goodwill of North Georgia Board of Directors, including his roles as Board Chair and Immediate Past Chair, his leadership and vision have been instrumental in advancing Goodwill’s mission. Keith Parker, President and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, said, “We are honored to recognize Kirk Halpern with our first-ever Community Leadership Award. His tireless dedication, innovative thinking, and unwavering support have been instrumental in helping us fulfill our mission of putting people to work. Kirk’s impact will be felt for years to come, and we are grateful for his many contributions.”

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Goodwill of North Georgia serves a 45-county territory with over more than stores and donation centers, as well as 14 career centers offering job training and placement services free of charge. The organization has been named the No. 1 Goodwill in the nation for putting people to work for five consecutive years, connecting more than 21,000 jobseekers with meaningful employment last year alone.

Halpern shared his passion for Goodwill and said, “I have had the benefit of working in hospitality my entire life. The reason I am so dedicated to Goodwill for over a decade and served on the board is because I understand how much Goodwill North Georgia impacts lives. When it comes to getting work, there should be no barriers. Goodwill assists folks so they can be engaged in the work force. I believe that by working with individuals to get back to work, it gives them hope. If we give people hope, including those in redemption, or have lost their jobs or unable to get employed for a list of reasons, we’re offering opportunity from a societal and individual aspect which is critically important.”

He added, “Whether it’s educating and training before interviewing or learning business skills, Goodwill North Georgia is great at it and assists individuals in meaningful ways. I find it extremely important to go to graduations and events celebrating individual’s accomplishments. You’ll see people telling the story they were homeless and now they are supporting their family. Throughout my entire life, I have met individuals who need second opportunity assistance on soft skills and need our community. We can’t take this for granted. By being involved in the Goodwill movement focused on helping people grow, it made me a better and more thoughtful businessperson. When I had key moments after COVID hit, I pivoted in 13 hours and kept my workforce. I was also committed to helping save employees at other companies to find work and together we grew through the pandemic.”

Regarding the upcoming event, Halpern explained further, “If you’ve ever enjoyed watching ‘Shark Tank,’ this is ‘Shark Tank’ with a heart.” These stories are the definition of the American Dream. Goodwill assists would-be entrepreneurs, the people who want to live their dreams, whether it’s opening a shop, taking a family recipe handed down from a grandparent, or opening a hair salon or any of the endless goals. These people love a craft or a trade and need to learn how to be businesspeople, get capital, how to put together a business plan and negotiate things that are tough to do. We are a resource for them, mentorship and the yearly culmination is the Battle of the BIZ! competition.”

Halpern’s leadership helped to guide Goodwill of North Georgia Board of Directors towards greater inclusivity, achieving a balanced representation of 50-50 female/male and 50-50 white/black with 13 percent Latinx membership. He set an example of engagement and commitment by consistently attending board and committee meetings, participating in special events, and encouraging fellow board members to share their “Goodwill story” to help spread the organization’s mission and reach as many North Georgians as possible. His contributions went beyond financial support; he freely provided resources and expertise from his business, Farmers & Fishermen, to benefit Goodwill’s events and programs.

Halpern’s commitment to Goodwill extended to his support of the GoodBIZ! program, where he played a crucial role in helping hundreds of aspiring business owners realize their entrepreneurial dreams. His contributions, both financial and strategic, have left an indelible mark on the organization and the communities it serves. To learn more about Goodwill of North Georgia and support the upcoming event or purchase a table, tickets, or bid on one of the fabulous silent auction items visit www.goodwillng.org/battle.