Timber Ridge School

Timber Ridge School serves boys who have a history of serious emotional,
learning, and behavioral difficulties. Their program provides a success-oriented environment to nurture, motivate, and teach their students to meet their physical, emotional, social, and educational needs. The school needed to raise money on an ongoing basis to fund improvements in its campus programs and facilities.

In 1996 the Timber Ridge School developed its first collectible with ChemArt featuring the artwork of Mort Künstler, one of America’s greatest historical
artists.

According to Troy Newbraugh, Director of Development at the School, “Over the years, Mr. Künstler has generously donated the use of his artwork for our annual ornament fundraiser. At Mort’s request, all proceeds generated from the sale of ornaments remain with the School to assist with student program needs and facility development.” Newbraugh continues, “The success of this fundraiser has been incredible. Words just can’t express how important Mort has been to Timber Ridge School, and the young men we serve.”

Every ornament in the series features an original oil painting by Künstler which has increased the popularity of the collectible series, and increased awareness of the school. Each ornament is packaged with a certificate of authenticity and a thank you letter confirming the eligibility of the purchase for a tax deduction.

Timber Ridge uses a variety of creative marketing tactics to promote their collectible series. These include: mailings to their database, advertising in local and national Civil War publications, collaborating with local Chambers of Commerce, cross promoting on Civil War message boards, donating a series to Civil War related silent auctions, and attending numerous Civil War reenactments and Christmas shows along the mid-atlantic and southeast US. Visitors can also purchase the ornament directly from the School’s web site or at www.civilwarornament.com. Every year the local cable television talk show invites Timber Ridge to introduce the
new ornament on the show.

The Timber Ridge School has raised over $500,000 with their ChemArt collectible program. In addition, their first ornament from 1996 now sells on eBay for $749.

For more information on the Timber Ridge School, please visit their website at www.timber-ridge-school.org. For more information on Mort Künstler and his paintings, please visit his website at www.mortkunstler.com.

 Download a PDF of the Timber Ridge School customer success story