Woori Financial Group announced on October 16th that it visited the headquarters of Goodwill Industries in Rockville, Maryland, and delivered a presentation introducing the 'Woori-Will Store' model, a social contribution initiative hybridizing the concept of a well-established US-based donation store with financial services.
The visit was made at the official invitation of Goodwill Industries’ headquarters and recognized Woori Financial’s partnership project with Goodwill as a leading example of empowering individuals with developmental disabilities toward financial independence.
During the lecture, Im Jong-ryong, Woori Financial Group Chairman, shared the company’s broader social contribution strategy and highlighted the successful job creation projects developed in cooperation with Goodwill. He also discussed various initiatives such as expanding a donation culture through 'Goodwill Donation Boxes' and improving access to financial services for vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities.
Goodwill Industries’ executives expressed great interest in Woori Financial’s active social contribution efforts and innovative approach. Steven Preston, the CEO of Goodwill Industries International, stated that Woori’s model would be shared as an example with their global chapters and that local staff expressed interest in adopting the model within their own countries.
Originally established in the US as a nonprofit thrift store supporting employment for persons with disabilities, Goodwill Industries has evolved to incorporate social enterprise models such as integrating financial support and expanding employment opportunities for disabled workers.
Woori Financial Future Foundation has partnered with the Milal Welfare Foundation since 2023, pledging a total of 30 billion KRW over ten years to open 100 new Goodwill Stores. Every year, at least six new stores are launched, with initial salary support provided to help develop employment stability for adults with developmental disabilities.
To encourage voluntary donations from customers, Woori Bank installed donation boxes at ATMs and added a donation feature to its mobile app, ‘Woori WON Banking.’ Furthermore, some branches operate ‘Shop-in-Shop’ stores within existing outlets, combining easy access to financial services with employment opportunities for persons with disabilities—creating a mutually beneficial model.
Im Jong-ryong emphasized, “Woori Financial and Goodwill share the same goal of fostering independence for persons with disabilities,” and vowed, “We will continue to realize social value and fulfill our responsibilities as a global financial group.”
Founded in 1902 in the US, Goodwill Industries supports employment for persons with disabilities through a circular model that sells donated goods to create jobs. Today, the organization operates 165 chapters worldwide, with over 3,300 stores, and in Korea alone, about 500 developmentally disabled individuals work across 46 stores.
