Ohio Valley Goodwill Vocational Services Center Employee Honored For Life-Saving Action!

L to R: Regina Angel Lill, Brenda Matthews, Jeremy Perry and Mayor Steve Miller

Ohio Valley Goodwill strives to have a life-changing impact on everyone we serve. It is rare, however, that we get to see that impact as clearly as in the case of Brenda Matthews, a Program Specialist at the Goodwill Vocational Service Center. On Jan. 14, 2014, Brenda used the Heimlich maneuver to save the life of an individual at the Goodwill Center. Brenda’s expert response was a reflection of her training as well as her own quick thinking  in helping someone she supports.

On the evening of February 24th, Brenda was honored for her heroic actions  by the Fairfield City Council and Mayor Steve Miller. And, in fact, the Mayor presented Brenda with a proclamation from the city of Fairfield announcing that today, Tuesday, February 25th is officially “Brenda Matthews Day” in the city of Fairfield. The recognition was a well-deserved commendation made possible by the mother of the individual whose life was saved who nominated Brenda for the honor from the Fairfield City Council.    Mayor Steve Miller commented during the ceremony that he found it very inspiring that Brenda cared so much and demonstrated that compassion in the most visible way possible- by saving a human life.

However, the  person who was saved by Brenda’s actions was only one of the many people whose lives she has touched during her thirteen years with Goodwill. Although the circumstances may not always be so dramatic, Brenda has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of every individual receiving services at the Goodwill Vocational Services Center. Brenda was among the Center’s first employees when it opened in 2008, and is a well-respected member of the Fairfield Goodwill team. One of many talented and dedicated Goodwill staff team members that provide services to individuals with disabilities served through the organization’s partnership with the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Center received the “Agency Provider of the Year” award in recognition of its outstanding services in 2011.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is very proud of    Brenda and all of the members of the Fairfield team and congratulate Brenda on her well-deserved recognition from the City Council. Team members like Brenda are Goodwill’s most valuable assets and we are grateful for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the individuals we serve. To find out more about Goodwill’s Fairfield Vocational Services Center, contact Sharon Hannon, Marketing Specialist, (513) 771-4800, ext. 6364.

We were excited to see WCPO Channel 9 News pick up this story on our heroic vocational services staff. You can view their coverage here.

Michael Goforth, Brenda Matthews, Jeremy Perry and Carlotta Buckley.

Fairfield City Council Proclamation