AKRON, Ohio — May 28, 2026 — The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc. (GIA) earned its 15th consecutive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). It was granted a Three-Year Accreditation, the highest level awarded. GIA serves Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties, providing services to 15,392 individuals in 2025 alone.
This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
“At Goodwill, everything we do is centered on helping individuals prepare for, find and retain employment,” said Laura Walker, vice president, mission services. “Our CARF reaccreditation reflects our ongoing commitment to quality services and continuous improvement throughout the five-county area we serve.”
About Goodwill Industries of Akron
The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation that helps individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. Operating in the five-county region of Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland & Richland, the agency was established in 1927. It is a private, independent organization, operating as an affiliate member of Goodwill Industries International. Goodwill helps to directly strengthen the region’s workforce through its employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail outlets and Business Services division. For more information about GIA, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.
About CARF
CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.
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Contact: Leah Davis
(330) 786-2519
ldavis@goodwillakron.org