SourceAmerica Announces AbilityOne Network Award Winners

Vienna, Va. --- Each day, more than 125,000 employees with disabilities go to work under the federal AbilityOne Program. While this segment of the population is too often overlooked with an 80 percent unemployment rate, the AbilityOne Program helps demonstrate their full capabilities in the workforce. SourceAmerica, a federally-established nonprofit agency that administers the AbilityOne Program, has awarded Job Options, Inc., based in San Diego, its AbilityOne Performance Excellence in Government Contracts Award, and Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina based in Charleston, South Carolina, its AbilityOne Performance Excellence in Grassroots Advocacy Award for strongly supporting this important program.

With over 70 AbilityOne employees working at Job Options, Inc.’s contract site, Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia, management is committed to its employees’ success through continuous and open customer communication. In addition to quick response time, they provide the customer with regular updates on quality assurance, process improvements, and cost-cutting measures. They conduct random, targeted inspections to reinforce performance standards and quickly rectify problem areas, and its employees receive weekly training.

“Receiving the award is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the management team proving that the AbilityOne Program and its employees can provide quality services that the Army requires,” Jeffrey Johnson, CEO, Job Options, said.

Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina received SourceAmerica’s advocacy award for integrating it into its daily operations. The company hosts monthly tours of its facilities and AbilityOne contract sites for the public and members of Congress so people can see firsthand the impact of the AbilityOne Program. And, before and after each event, Goodwill promotes its advocacy efforts to the media. In 2015, they hosted more than 50 advocacy events.

Through Goodwill’s advocacy efforts, three members of Congress―Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.―pledged their ongoing support of the program and have completed the process of becoming AbilityOne Champions.

 “We are humbled by this recognition,” Robert Smith, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina, said.  “It’s through the efforts of grassroots movements like this that builds Congressional consensus around the great work and positive impact of the Ability One Program.”