Goodwill Southern California Celebrates Renovated Valley Campus

Mark Walberg, the host of PBS' Antiques Roadshow, served as MC for a grand reopening celebration of Goodwill Southern California's Valley Campus in Panorama City on Tuesday.

A health and wellness fair was also held at the new facility, which has been expanded from 24,000 to 51,000 square feet and includes a new Bank of America Job Service Center.

Goodwill is also proud of being an environmentally-friendly organization, and Goodwill Southern California's CEO and president, Doug Barr, told the crowd that the facility was built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications and utilizes a solar energy system that will save the site around $40,000 in utility bills per year. To help highlight the green aspect of the facility, the Peterson Automotive Museum brought an electric car from 1916 to display, along with several people dressed up in costumes from 1916, which is the year that Goodwill was founded. Barr also said that last year GSC diverted 25.4 million pounds of electronics, paper, and textiles from landfills.

According to GSC, the enlarged space and added amenities will allow the organization to significantly increase retail revenue, provide a variety of additional programs and services not previously offered, and directly employ over 45 additional staff.

In 2010, GSC served 92,353 individuals and placed 7,490 people in new jobs through its three locations and supports its mission with proceeds generated from 67 retail stores and 44 attended donation centers, including locations in , , , Sherman Oaks, Encino and other locations around the Valley.