**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 2019
Contact: Jose Medellin | jmedellin@goodwillny.org | 646-238-9133
Goodwill NYNJ Board Chair Honored for services to the Swedish Government
Henry J. Gooss, chair of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ was recognized with the prestigious Royal order of the Polar Star April 2
New York, NY (April 2, 2019) – Henry J. Gooss, chair of the Board of Directors of Goodwill® Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ, Inc., received today the prestigious Royal order of the Polar Star (“Nordstjärneorden”) from the Swedish Government and H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden for his long-time service and for actively promoting trade between Sweden and the United States. Mr. Gooss joined the Goodwill NYNJ Board of Directors in 1994 and has been chairman since January 2015.
The Order of the Polar Star is an order of chivalry created by King Fredrick I in 1748. Before the reorganization of the orders in 1975, it was presented to Swedish and foreign citizens as reward for “civic merits, devotion to duty, science, literary, learned and useful works and new and beneficial institutions.” Currently, the order is only awarded to foreigners and members of the Swedish royal family. Other American recipients include former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Michael Wood; Michael M Kaiser, Director of the Kennedy Center; Governor Jennifer Granholm, and actor Greta Garbo.
“Hank Gooss has been a dear and important friend of Sweden here in New York for many years and it is most appropriate to honor him with the Royal order of the Polar Star,”” said Annika Rembe, Consul General of Sweden in New York. “He served as chairman of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce here in New York City twice and Chairman of the Swedish American Chamber´s national US umbrella organization.”
“I’m grateful and honored for this important recognition. It is my pleasure and privilege to help to improve trade relations between Sweden, my country of ancestry, and the U.S. After a rewarding career, I feel fortunate for the opportunity to serve organizations that are important in my life and to give back to my community,” said Mr. Gooss.
“Congratulations to Hank for this well-deserved recognition on behalf of the Goodwill NYNJ Board of Directors and our entire staff. We are grateful for his generosity and more than two decades of service and leadership to further our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence through the power of work.”
In 2018, Goodwill NYNJ provided a wide array of services to 29,841 people, including nearly 9 thousand individuals with disabilities. Services such as digital skills training through the Goodwill’s Digital Career Accelerator® program, unlimited job coaching and full-time and temporary job placements for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment, and primary care and other supportive programs to help people with psychiatric disabilities stay healthy and on the job. Goodwill NYNJ creates jobs. In 2018, the nonprofit organization developed job options for 2,351 people in jobs, including 843 individuals with disabilities.
About Goodwill NYNJ
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates 37 retail stores throughout the region powered by donations of clothing and household items. Goodwill NYNJ translates those donations into workforce development services for people with disabilities and the unemployed, and retail training leading to employment. Annually, Goodwill NYNJ services build better lives for thousands of New York City Metropolitan Area residents and their families. For over 104 years, the agency’s mission has been to empower individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence through the power of work. Learn more about Goodwill NYNJ at http://www.goodwillnynj.org; follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillNYNJ; and find us on Facebook or Instagram: GoodwillNYNJ.