Goodwill Pays It Backward

Everyone knows Goodwill is the champion of helping those in need. But as a recent case in Florida proves, the charity cares just as much for its donors as it does its recipients.

Goodwill Industries of South Florida in Miami recently returned a statue to a donor who was unaware of the artwork's value --$500,000!

According to an article on CBS4.com, the charity received a hefty donation from a hotel including furniture, lamps, artwork and a two-and-a-half ton, life-sized, bronze ballerina statue. The fact that the statue was so unusual and signed by the artist prompted managers to do some research. They found that the statue was one of only ten bronze ballerinas made years ago and sold for $500,000. The charity could have kept the ballerina and sold her for a pretty penny, but true to its name, Goodwill returned it.

"We have a reputation for integrity and honesty," Dennis Pastrana, president and CEO of Goodwill, told CBS4.com. "And while we could have kept the statue, in good conscience we knew that it would have been wrong and unethical to attempt to sell such a valuable piece of art without notifying the donor first."

Even without the statue, the donation totaled about $68,000. And even though it's better to give than to receive, we're guessing that the donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, is grateful to have the statue back.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.