Goodwill Southwest Florida Celebrates Community Champions at Annual Breakthrough Awards
Each spring, Goodwill Southwest Florida (SWFL) brings the community together for an evening filled with celebration, gratitude, and inspiration. This year’s gathering carries special significance as Goodwill marks its Diamond Year—60 years of service and impact. On March 27, 2026, the tradition continues as Goodwill hosts its annual Breakthrough Awards at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. The event, held at 1375 Monroe Street, will honor seven remarkable individuals and organizations whose commitment has strengthened Goodwill’s mission and expanded opportunities throughout Southwest Florida.
The Breakthrough Awards recognize those who truly embody Goodwill’s dedication to empowering people with disabilities and disadvantages. Since 1966, Goodwill SWFL has served residents across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties through life-changing programs that promote independence. Sixty years of mission services have transformed lives across the region, and each year’s honorees represent the very best of that mission in action.
This year’s award categories reflect the diverse partnerships that fuel Goodwill’s impact. The Chet Perry Achiever of the Year celebrates a current Goodwill employee who has not only excelled in their role but has also benefitted from one of Goodwill’s mission programs. The William J. Barrett Graduate of the Year honors a program graduate who continues to thrive on their chosen path, demonstrating the long‑term power of Goodwill’s support.
Community collaboration is also central to the ceremony. The Employer of the Year award recognizes a business that has opened its doors to individuals facing barriers to employment, creating opportunities that ripple far beyond the workplace. The Business of the Year highlights a company whose partnership with Goodwill has strengthened the organization’s ability to serve more people, while the Philanthropist of the Year honors a benefactor whose generosity has propelled Goodwill SWFL toward its goals.
Goodwill SWFL also shines a light inward with the Employee of the Year award, celebrating a team member whose dedication has elevated the organization over the past year. And this year, a new honor joins the lineup: Advocate of the Year, recognizing a community member whose voice and actions have amplified Goodwill’s mission in meaningful ways.
Guests at the Breakthrough Awards can expect an elegant plated meal, heartfelt video tributes to each honoree, and an atmosphere filled with gratitude for the individuals and organizations who help Goodwill change lives every day. Tickets are available for $225 per person, or $2,000 for a table of ten, and can be purchased online. For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.eventcreate.com/e/gwswflbreakthroughawards
As Goodwill Southwest Florida prepares to celebrate another year of progress, the Breakthrough Awards stand as a reminder that meaningful change is never the work of one person alone. It is built through partnership, compassion, and a shared belief in the potential of every individual. In honoring these seven standout contributors, Goodwill honors the spirit of a community that continues to lift one another higher.
