Oregon Woman and Ex-Offender Credits Goodwill in Helping Turn Her Life Around
Janie Marsh Named 2009 Graduate of the Year
March 16, 2009
Rockville, MD – Janie Marsh hit bottom when, at age 24, she used her daughter’s disability benefit checks and her government-issued food stamps and welfare checks to support her drug addiction. She had begun her downward spiral 12 years earlier, sneaking vodka out of her parents’ liquor cabinet.
Janie’s life took on a pattern of drug and alcohol abuse and criminal activity. She was in an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. She had five children. Then, in April 2005, Janie was arrested for the 24th time. She was sentenced to three years in prison for illegal drug use, burglary and identity theft.
While in prison, Janie knew she had to turn her life around. She joined Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Turning Point, a national drug and alcohol treatment program. For 14 hours a day, seven days a week, over the course of six months, Janie was an active participant in education, counseling and rehabilitation. And she completed Goodwill Industries’ three-week course for building job-seeking skills.
After serving a little more than a year of her sentence, Janie was released from prison and immediately contacted Goodwill’s Job Connection program in her hometown of McMinnville, Oregon. She developed a resume and got pointers on interview skills and confidence building.
Days after being released from prison, Janie was hired by the first company she interviewed with – Oregon Green Landscaping. She has worked for Oregon Green full-time for more than two years, is completely free of government assistance, and is providing for her five children. Janie also serves as a speaker and role model for other women who are battling drug and alcohol dependence.
“My new sober lifestyle includes helping others who struggle as I once did,” said Marsh. “I now believe life is a gift, to be opened and treasured each day. Prison gave me back my life, but Goodwill gave me back my dignity.”
“Janie Marsh embodies the spirit that Goodwill’s Graduate of the Year program was established to honor,” said Jim Gibbons, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International. “She has overcome tremendous adversity, taken responsibility for turning her life around, and is now financially supporting herself and her family.”
The Graduate of the Year award honors an outstanding person who has completed a Goodwill Industries career program and is now competitively employed by a non-Goodwill employer in his/her community.
For more information please contact Dale Emanuel, Public Relations Representative at (503) 238-6138.