A Goodwill store in Miami received donations from a hotel that had been bought and sold several times. The signed, life-size bronze statue of a ballerina--all 2 1/2 tons of it--looked valuable so the Goodwill management looked up the artist, Sterett-Gittings Kelsey. They learned they had a treasure with an estimated value of $500,000. Goodwill offered to return the sculpture to the firm that owned the hotel and they are taking it back. Goodwill felt that the owner had been generous in giving about $68,000 worth of other items and did not realize the value of the statue. Although Goodwill could have sold the statue, they felt it would have been unethical. We applaud Goodwill for their honesty.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A DONATION THAT SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
A Goodwill store in Miami received donations from a hotel that had been bought and sold several times. The signed, life-size bronze statue of a ballerina--all 2 1/2 tons of it--looked valuable so the Goodwill management looked up the artist, Sterett-Gittings Kelsey. They learned they had a treasure with an estimated value of $500,000. Goodwill offered to return the sculpture to the firm that owned the hotel and they are taking it back. Goodwill felt that the owner had been generous in giving about $68,000 worth of other items and did not realize the value of the statue. Although Goodwill could have sold the statue, they felt it would have been unethical. We applaud Goodwill for their honesty.
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23 comments:
Good for them, in this day and age and the state of economy they are to applauded.
AGREED!!! Goodwill has really earned my trust and respect!
Goodwill should have kept it. Heaven knows they need the money more than some property management firm. If the firm didn't bother to properly research their merchandise in the first place, well then, that should have been Goodwill's good fortune (and added relief for all those who benefit from Goodwill's benevolence.
That is the true spirit of Goodwill. I have noticed for the last few years that the Salvation Armies in the Houston TX areas have started to ask for astronomical prices on items that they are resaling in their stores. It seems eveything has become a collectable item or antique. I think I will start going to Goodwill stores from now on. At the Goodwill stores I may still be able to get a bargain.
I think a finder's fee of 10% for Goodwill would have been a fair donation from the management company.
There are still some honest people among us. Great job. Hope the owner makes partial cash donation to Goodwill for being honest.
Nice story. Thanks for sharing this story. It seems like everyone involved did the right thing, and it's nice to know about it. YOu guys at Kovel's have great spirit.
It was wonderful of Goodwill to act in such an ethical manner. I'll pass this on to everyone I know so that they too can feel confident in donating to such an ethical establishment. Frankly, there aren't too many out there like that now-a-day.
I do hope that the owners will share a part of the profit they make on the sale of the statue with Goodwill. They should realize that if it had not been for Goodwill they would not have these additional monies.
I am so happy to read this story and realize that there are still people/companies with integrity. I agree that a finder's fee would be a good gesture in return on the part of the property management firm. I regularly shop Goodwill and will continue to do so. I also agree with the above posted comment about the prices at Salvation Army, I've noticed the same thing here in California.
If the item was for sale at Goodwill's and after it was purchased found out to be worth
$500,000 would you return it?
Thank Heaven for honesty- there really is some in today's world!
It is truly honorable for Goodwill to return an item so valuable. Greed and entitlement have taken over so many minds. It is refreshing to know there are those still willing to be morally sound. I applaud their actions and example.
Brovo! Not many would do what Goodwill did. The people at Goodwill decided greed isn't everything, especially since the firm already donated such a large amount of things. What goes around, comes around. Brova again!!
Great for Goodwill. Honesty will ALWAYS be the best policy. They didn't get that name for doing evil things under-handed. Go to Shopgoodwill.com and thank them by bidding on some of the stuff that they recognize as special- saleable. May the best bidder win!
Congratulations to Goodwill. I agree with the person who is changing to Goodwill from the Salvation Army. I keep thinking every time I go into the Salvation Army, "Wow how do poor people afford the Salvation Army nowadays. I've noticed Goodwill's prices are generally the same and have been for years, whereas the Salvation Army no longer sells clothing for a dollar or two and shoes have become ridiculous. Don't they realize this is donated old stuff. So Goodwill, thank you for keeping up the goodwill and a thumbs down for the Salvation Army.
This story broke a week ago and I can't find any follow-up about the owner making any sort of donation in return for the incredibly noble gesture by Goodwill. I did find, however, this quote from the sculptor: 'Too bad it goes back to someone who doesn't even know what he had," she said from her home in Roxbury, Conn.
So, Goodwill truly is good will. They have earned my admiration and respect.
Great news! Today's society needs more honest people...this is truly refreshing. I agree that the company should make some sort of donation to Goodwill...only "moral" thing to do actually. Let's remember this and try to do likewise when occasions arise..most likely to a lesser monetary degree :)
I commend the Goodwill as well. So many other stores of this type, are really not true to their name, as this one seems to be. I shop at goodwill shops, and will continue to do so!
This isn't a matter of honesty or ethics - just plain laziness and stupidity by the hotel owners. A gift is a gift. They didn't like the statue anyways.
This is not about honesty or ethics but about laziness and stupidity. The hotel owners could have done their own research but chose not to. A gift is a gift. Goodwill should have kept it and sold it.
I think it's great that Goodwill did this in the case of the expensive donation, however, let's not forget that the management of Goodwill is paying astronomical salaries to their head people. Example: the CEO of the local Goodwill in Portland was making $800K/year salary! Is THAT what you were donating to? Doesn't seem right to me. Also, the prices at Goodwill in Florida might be good, but in Portland they have been charging terribly high prices for things they get for free. Prices in many cases that match or exceed similar items new in the stores!
BRAVO!!
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