Dean was a successful contractor when suddenly he was struck down in his prime by a massive stroke.  He became partially paralyzed and lost the ability to speak clearly.  His brother Paul reports that Dean suffered the emotions you would expect from such a drastic setback.

Told by some that he would never work again, Dean was determined to make the most of training and opportunities offered by Goodwill.  Today he works in Goodwill’s North Nevada Street Facility in Spokane where he tags accessories, hangs clothes, and provides other production support.

After Dean accepted Goodwill’s first Independence Award for the greater Spokane area, his journey and his success were covered by a lengthy story with a photo in the newspaper.  His brother Paul wrote, “Goodwill gave Dean the chance to work again and in doing so gave him a second chance and a new life.”