Youngstown Area Goodwill hosted its inaugural Mission Fundraising Breakfast at the Daniel L Rossi Auditorium Wednesday morning.

The event featured over 100 esteemed guests and colleagues from the organization including Interim CEO Shelley Murray, Board President Hasheen Wilson and former board president Mark Gasser.

According to a press release, these guests illuminated the organization's broader impact on the community.

One guest, identified as Shannon Von Seggern is wheelchair-bound and serves as a supervisor at Goodwill's retail store in Boardman. She shared her journey highlighting the impact the organization had on her.

A video presentation also showcased the stories of two more Goodwill members including the former program director for the Youngstown Radio Reading Service Mike Bosela, who navigates visual impairment, and resident lawn care specialist Kenny Carlisle, who was able to find solace and purpose through employment following a period of homelessness.

Murray tells 21 News many people know Goodwill for its retail stores and donation centers, but the organization is much more than just that. Murray highlighted Goodwill's job skill training through its mission programming.

"We just look to help individuals overcome barriers to employment. Those barriers could be anything from returning from drug rehabilitation, to being justice impacted, to a physical or an intellectual disability," Murray said.

Other services from Goodwill include vision screenings in local preschools for children with a lazy eye and a specialized radio station that provides the news of the day in audio format for those who are vision impaired.