It is with great sadness and the heaviest of heart that we announce the passing of MERS Goodwill’s Board of Directors Chairperson, Ruthann “Tani” Wolff.

MERS Goodwill’s Board Members are instrumental in helping to establish the agency’s mission and grow the organization’s ability to serve and respond to the needs of the local community. Tani joined Goodwill’s effort in 1975 and served on the Board of Directors for more than 40 years, holding almost every committee chair and officer position including a three-year term as President during MERS Goodwill’s 50th anniversary.

She dedicated her life to supporting positive change and bettering the community, as she shared with us, “The most fascinating, moving and motivating part of being on the MERS Goodwill board is witnessing the client presentations, they bring the mission and myriad of programs down to the human level. Real people facing real problems, receiving real guidance and real results aided by MERS’ [Goodwill] people.”

Tani’s commitment to the community was truly a motivation to us all and a testament to Goodwill’s impact and mission, Changing Lives Through the Power of Work.  She dedicated her time volunteering for many non-profit committees over the years including the United Way, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the American Jewish Committee, The United Nations Association, the English Language School, Leadership Saint Louis, the Harvard Business School Club, and more; however, her most in-depth commitments have been to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and the Saint Louis University Library Associates, sitting on the Opera Theater of Saint Louis Guild Board for over 25 years.

Tani believed sharing clients’ inspiring stories with the public is vital for the organization and a goal we too will honor with the hopes of making her proud. “If the world could only hear how our services enhance the lives of our clients,” says Tani. “The stories we hear bring the mission and the myriad of programs down to the human level. We need to make their stories as real to the rest of the community as they are to us.”

With her legacy, we are able to continue to serve the community and provide services to over 11,000 individuals annually. Tani strongly believed in our mission: Changing Lives Through The Power of Work. All our love to Tani’s family and friends. May her profound legacy live on.