Stories of Impact: Edward Bartlett

A portrait of Edward Bartlett. In 1902, Reverend Edgar J. Helms created an innovative system for collecting items from the community and selling them in Goodwill stores. Helms opened Goodwill’s doors to anyone with a “willingness to work” and became the pioneer of an organization that gave people hope, dignity, and independence by providing them with the means to earn a paycheck and support their families. On April 25, 1965, Goodwill Southeast Georgia was incorporated under the leadership of Edward J. Bartlett as Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire. From a modest beginning, operating on $60,000 a year, in a borrowed building, with eight employees, Goodwill Southeast Georgia has grown into a multi-million-dollar social enterprise. Its mission programs supporting education, skills training and employment opportunities are 98% percent self-funded. Mr. Bartlett remained involved with Goodwill Southeast Georgia through its growth, including the organization’s move to its current headquarters on Sallie Mood Drive in Savannah. Mr. Bartlett was committed to a lifetime of service and strongly believed in the power of education. He was known for saying, “Education is a life process. If one stops getting education, the world will pass him by.” Mr. Bartlett served as President of the Savannah -Chatham Board of Education for two terms, from 1959 until 1961. He was instrumental in seeing a $6 million school bond referendum passed in 1960. In 1961, Edward J. Bartlett Junior High School was officially dedicated in his honor.

“Education is a life process. If one stops getting education, the world will pass him by.”

This commitment to education and workforce development continued with Goodwill. Mr. Bartlett received the Goodwill Hall of Fame award in 1992 and was Southeast Georgia’s first inductee to the Goodwill International Hall of Fame in 2002. The foundation he built by bringing Goodwill to Southeast Georgia has grown to an organization with 16 retail stores, an advanced manufacturing facility knows as G-Force, and an AbilityOne contract services program. (Sources: Goodwill Southeast Georgia organizational archives, legacy.com)

60th Anniversary Stories of Impact

In 2025, Goodwill Southeast Georgia is celebrating 60 years of service! Since 1965, Goodwill Southeast Georgia has transformed countless lives by empowering individuals to achieve their highest potential. Throughout the year, we will honor this legacy of impact by sharing inspiring stories of the GOOD we have accomplished together. Stay tuned for more stories, videos, memories and more! Every dollar Goodwill Southeast Georgia generates stays here, fueling free job training, education, and employment opportunities for anyone visiting Goodwill’s six regional Opportunity Centers. The Centers, the heart of Goodwill Southeast Georgia’s workforce development mission, are 98% funded through revenue generated from the organization’s business programs. In 2024, Goodwill Southeast Georgia served over 4,800 people, most of whom represented underserved populations. 614 individuals were placed into sustainable employment, affirming Goodwill’s commitment to helping people find a Job, A Better Job, and a Career.

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