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Going Above & Beyond: Ali's Journey of Dedication and Impact
Meet Ali!
Originally from Iraq, Ali, his wife, and their three children were forced to flee multiple countries during the civil war before arriving in the United States as refugees in 2015, ready to begin again.
Like many newcomers, Ali took on work that helped support his family but often left him isolated due to a language barrier. His wife, however, quickly found meaningful work at Goodwill San Antonio. Determined to learn English, Ali pushed himself to interact with others at work and taught himself through television and YouTube, refusing to let this hurdle stand in the way of a better future.
Years later, Ali wanted more out of work. Inspired by his wife’s positive experience at Goodwill, Ali took a leap of faith and applied with the organization. He was hired on with the Home Pickup team and immediately embraced every opportunity to learn and grow. In just four years, Ali has earned two promotions and now serves as an Assistant Manager in Central Processing, leading a team of seven that he proudly calls family.
According to Ali, Goodwill feels like home. In addition to working alongside his wife, his son also began a career with Goodwill San Antonio’s e-commerce department. “We love Goodwill,” he says. “There are really great people here that keep us smiling every day, make us feel welcome, and support us.”
Ali is deeply grateful to Goodwill for helping him achieve the dreams of homeownership, good credit, and stability for his family. “I love my job. I respect my job. I thank God every day for my job. Goodwill changed my life. It feels like freedom.”
Join us in congratulating Ali on being one of this year’s Going Above Awardees!
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Goodwill San Antonio
406 W. Commerce
San Antonio, Texas 78207
210-924-8581 | 800-483-9455
