Independence Japanese Sister City

Foundation Workshop has been providing employment opportunities to adults with disabilities in Jackson County, Mo., for more than 25 years. Originally organized by the Greater Kansas City Foundation for Retarded Children, Foundation Workshop began with one full-time staff member and 25 employees in a small office in Kansas City, Mo. Since that time, it has developed a well-established business, recognized by the business community for quality and dependability. The company works to provide sheltered employment as a transitional or long-term vocational option for adults with disabilities that are residents of Jackson County. This mission is carried out in a manor that promotes growth, self-esteem and individuality. Foundation Workshop has a location in Grandview, Mo.

Founded in 1902, Goodwill Industries International Inc. provides customized job training, employment placement and other services to individuals having disabilities, lacking education or job experience or facing employment problems. Based in Rockville, Md., it trains people for careers in various industries, including banking, information technology, healthcare and hospitality, among others. It also provides support services, such as English language training, additional education and more. With a network of 165 community-based local Goodwill member organizations across the United States and Canada, it generates revenue by selling donated clothes and household items at Goodwill retail stores and online, as well as by contracting with government and businesses to provide services such as food service preparation, packaging and assembly and much more.