• A rare French painting, an example of unexpected goodwill, donated to Goodwill sold for $40,600 at auction.
• The proceeds from this unexpected goodwill helped fund the Excel Center, a free high school for adults in Baltimore.
• The success of thrifting is growing as rising prices encourage more people to shop at Goodwill, showcasing unexpected goodwill from donors.

A Maryland Goodwill received a surprising donation that later sold at auction for $40,000. This unexpected act of goodwill funded a local school, directly benefiting the community. Goodwill’s mission transforms donations into opportunities, often creating these unanticipated moments of generosity.

How Goodwill Supports the Community

Goodwill takes donations and sells them in over 3,300 stores across the U.S. The money raised goes to charity. Many people donate clothes, books, and household items. Occasionally, valuable items are donated by mistake, which can lead to instances of goodwill that were not anticipated, supporting community programs.

Discovery of a Rare French Painting

Recently, a rare French painting was donated to Goodwill in a rural Maryland store. The staff had no idea how valuable it was at first. Lisa Rusyniak, the CEO of Goodwill Baltimore, explained that the seller didn’t know its true worth. The painting seemed like just another donation at first, a prime example of goodwill in unexpected places.

Employee’s Suspicion Leads to a Big Find

While sorting through the donations, one employee thought the painting might be special. They told their manager, Terri Tonelli, about it. After taking a closer look, Tonelli realized it could be worth more than they could price it for in the store. This led to further investigation, aided by unexpected goodwill from the initial donation.

Identifying the Artist

Tonelli determined that Édouard Léon Cortès, the famous French Impressionist, created the painting. The painting, titled Marche au Fleurs, showed a bustling street scene in Paris. Tonelli said that moment was exciting. “The hair on the back of my neck was standing up,” she remembered. They quickly realized they had discovered something truly valuable—an unexpected act of goodwill

A Journey to New York for Appraisal

The painting went to a Goodwill branch in Baltimore, where local art experts confirmed its authenticity. Goodwill then sent it to Sotheby’s auction house in New York, where specialists cleaned and appraised the work. The auction house’s experts confirmed its value and prepared it for sale. Such unexpected events of goodwill shape the journey of this rare piece.

The Sale of the Painting

Sotheby’s auctioned the painting off for an impressive $40,600. The money from the sale was used to fund Goodwill’s important work. It went directly to help support the Excel Center, a free high school in Baltimore, thanks to a surprising act of goodwill.

Excel Center Provides Education for Adults

The Excel Center is a high school for adults over 21 who have not completed their education. The school offers them a chance to earn a Maryland Department of Education diploma. Lisa Rusyniak mentioned that about 80,000 people in Baltimore have not finished high school. The Excel Center aims to help address this issue and offer more opportunities for adults in the community. It acts as a beacon of unexpected goodwill, bringing education to adults.

The Growing Success of the Excel Center

Since its opening, the Excel Center has been highly successful. The school is already over-enrolled, with a growing waiting list. “One of our students brought their mother and grandmother, so now three generations are attending the school,” Rusyniak said. The success story is one of many. The school is helping people get their education and improve their lives, a testament to the unexpected goodwill that helps fund its mission.

Thrift Shopping as a Growing Trend

Rusyniak believes that the rise in prices, caused by tariffs, could lead to more people shopping at Goodwill. “I think more people will turn to thrifting,” she said. Goodwill’s stores offer affordable, quality items. As prices rise, many shoppers are discovering the value in thrifting, leading to acts of goodwill that often surprise.

Supporting the Mission Through Thrifting

People who shop at Goodwill are helping support the organization’s mission. Not only are they saving money, but they’re also making a positive impact. By purchasing items at Goodwill, shoppers help keep clothes and household goods out of landfills. The sales from these items directly support community programs like the Excel Center, all made possible through acts of unexpected goodwill.