Diageo North America and Goodwill Kentucky renew partnership to expand hospitality workforce development program

Goodwill Kentucky and Diageo North America Renew Partnership to Expand Hospitality Career Opportunities

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Kentucky and Diageo North America have renewed their partnership to expand access to free job readiness training, helping more Kentucky residents gain the skills and connections needed to develop careers in one of the Commonwealth's growing industries.

Through Diageo’s ‘Learning Skills for Life’ program, participants receive training in areas such as customer service, food safety, job readiness, leadership, and financial literacy, along with personalized guidance from Goodwill Kentucky career coaches to help connect training with employment opportunities. More than 230 individuals have completed the program through Goodwill Kentucky since the partnership began in 2025.

“Goodwill Kentucky is grateful to continue our partnership with Diageo and expand opportunities for Kentuckians to build careers in hospitality,” said Dennis Ritchie, Vice President of Mission Strategy and Impact at Goodwill Kentucky. “This investment provides valuable training and support that can help individuals move toward greater economic stability.”

With a manufacturing presence in Kentucky, Diageo has invested nearly $290 million in the Commonwealth since 2019, supporting more than 1,700 jobs across distribution, retail, and hospitality. The partnership with Goodwill Kentucky reflects Diageo's continued commitment to investing not only in its operations, but also in the people and communities that help Kentucky thrive.

"At Diageo, we believe opportunity starts with access. Renewing our partnership with Goodwill Kentucky allows us to continue investing in people by helping them build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in hospitality,” said Dr. Danielle Robinson, Director of Community Engagement and Programs at Diageo North America. “Together, we're creating pathways to rewarding careers while strengthening Kentucky's hospitality workforce and the communities where we live and work."

The Diageo ‘Learning Skills for Life’ program is open to Goodwill clients, employees, and the general public. The renewed partnership is supported by a $100,000 grant from Diageo.

For more information about Goodwill Kentucky’s programs and services, visit GoodwillKY.org.

About Diageo North America

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodka, Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray, and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices. Follow on Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

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About Goodwill Kentucky

For more than 100 years, Goodwill Kentucky has helped Kentuckians find pathways out of poverty through the transformative power of work. Operating in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, Goodwill Kentucky places over 3,000 Kentuckians into jobs each year through its 1,400-plus employer partners and its own retail stores. These life-changing opportunities are made possible through donations to Goodwill Kentucky stores and community support. The organization reinvests approximately 90 cents of every dollar earned in its retail stores into job training and workforce programs. When you give to Goodwill, you do a lot of good.