Dr. George Snelling is a Georgia-based philanthropist and real estate investor who came to civic work after retiring from a career in dentistry. Dr. George Snelling sits on several charitable organization boards, including that of Goodwill of Middle Georgia.
The Goodwill organization is based on the vision of Edgar J. Helms who believed that underprivileged people would benefit more from a chance to work than from handouts. He set up a business whereby clothes were donated by wealthier people and others could be hired to wash, repair, and resell them.
The Middle Georgia branch came about in the 1970s to help people find meaningful work, especially those with special needs or disabilities. The organization offers career counseling and placement services for both job-seekers and employers. Its Department of Workforce Development also has several programs that specifically focus on people with disabilities or barriers to work, including veterans, at-risk youth, and older adults. In addition, the department’s Take Charge program focuses on the work of parenting, providing skills training and counseling to support healthy and stable family life.
