Ed Durkee
Photo by RTW Photography
By Ed Durkee, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida
In Summary:
Ed Durkee writes that financial hardship often forces people to focus on immediate needs instead of planning for the future. Through Goodwill's Prosperity Platform, he says individuals can identify meaningful personal goals and connect with resources that help turn those goals into reality. Durkee says that success looks different for everyone, and that communities become stronger when everyone has the opportunity to pursue the future they envision.
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Where do you want to be in ten years? It’s a simple question – but for many low-income Central Floridians, daily responsibilities and immediate needs often take priority over planning for the future.
Related: Goodwill Industries of Central Florida expands retail store hours across six counties.
If you’re in a good place financially, it’s easy to book tickets for next summer’s vacation or make a contribution to your IRA without worrying about whether you’ll need the money tomorrow. But if you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, that planning horizon becomes much shorter. You don’t have any cushion if you hit a big expense or miss a paycheck. Today’s needs will take priority over tomorrow’s goals.
But what if we could stretch that horizon a little further?
That’s the purpose of Goodwill’s Prosperity Platform, a free service open to all Central Floridians. Our planners sit down with members and ask important questions: What do you want your future to look like? Are you willing to take the necessary steps to get there?
For some, it’s the first time they’ve had the opportunity to think about it. Maybe they’re not ready to plan a year ahead – but they might be able to shorten the horizon and plan for their child’s back-to-school season, or the holidays. And that’s enough to start setting goals: Build a swing set for the kids. Get a new hairstyle for a special occasion. Travel to Tennessee to see a son graduate.
Everyone’s goals are going to look different because everyone is unique. By looking beyond the conventional milestones of home ownership or retirement, each person can create a vision for success that’s meaningful and realistic right now for them. Most important, they’ll be motivated to stick with it to the end.
And no matter what someone’s goal is, Goodwill’s aim is to help them achieve it. Traditionally, nonprofit programs are created with the solution in mind – a vocational training program can help you become a plumber; a scholarship can help you study nursing; a financial planning program can help you set up a savings plan. At Goodwill, we build a network of community resources centered around the individual. So, whether you want to be a plumber, a healthcare provider, our answer is “absolutely – we’re here to help.”
The reality is that everyone needs help to achieve their goals, regardless of their financial situation. People in low-income communities don’t have access to the accountants, financial advisors and personal bankers that help the wealthy manage their money – but they do have goals, and can benefit just as much from having someone to advise and assist them in planning for the future. That’s where the Prosperity Platform can level the playing field.
And when people have the space, resources, and support to set goals for their future, their lives change for the better. Because success isn’t one-size-fits-all, or even a finish line – it’s about pursuing the things that matter to you, one step at a time for as long as you have goals.
No matter who you are, you can be part of that impact by supporting your local Goodwill. Whether you’re dropping off a load of donations or shopping for great deals, you’re making our mission possible – and building a community where anyone can achieve their goals. To learn more about the Prosperity Platform, visit www.GoodwillCFL.org/services/prosperity-planning/.
Key Points:
- Durkee says financial insecurity often limits people's ability to plan for the future.
- Goodwill's Prosperity Platform helps Central Floridians identify goals and develop personalized plans to achieve them.
- The program focuses on each individual's definition of success rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Durkee argues that access to planning resources should not be limited by income.
- Supporting Goodwill through donations and shopping helps fund programs that promote economic mobility throughout Central Florida.
Ed Durkee is President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida directly channels more than 90 percent of its annual revenue into programs that enable individuals to secure meaningful employment, achieve their personal goals and thrive economically.
