HERSHEY, PA — Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has announced the donation of more than $21,000 in unclaimed property gift cards to three notable nonprofit organizations: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, and Veterans Multi-Service Center.
During a press conference at Ronald McDonald House in Hershey, Treasurer Garrity shared the distribution of the gift cards, which totals $21,662.42. The allocations are as follows: $7,281.48 to Ronald McDonald House of Central PA, $7,200.00 to Special Olympics Pennsylvania, and $7,180.94 to Veterans Multi-Service Center.
“We’re always working to return unclaimed property to rightful owners, but there are some cases – like the gift cards we’re donating today – where that’s simply impossible to do. I couldn’t be happier that we’re turning this into a positive by making these donations to three wonderful nonprofit organizations. Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, and Veterans Multi-Service Center all make a huge impact in the lives of Pennsylvanians every day. These organizations have touched countless lives, and I’m honored to help support their missions and the people they serve,” stated Treasurer Garrity.
The gift cards were initially reported as unclaimed property to the Treasury by the Abington Township Police Department in Montgomery County and the West Manchester Township Police Department in York County. They were seized during investigations that uncovered the cards were likely purchased with fraudulently obtained credit cards. The investigations resulted in three arrests.
Speaking at the press conference, Karla Mitchell, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House of Central PA, expressed gratitude for the donation. “Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA is extremely grateful to the Pennsylvania Treasury Department for this generous donation of gift cards. Gift cards allow our organization to purchase what we need, when we need it, for the families we serve at RMHC-CP. It significantly reduces any issues of storage or possible expiration dates. We appreciate being one of the organizations chosen to receive this unique form of support.”
Josh Burke, Regional Executive Director of Special Olympics Capital Area Region, also acknowledged the importance of the donation. “We are so grateful to Treasurer Garrity and her team not only for this amazing donation of gift cards but for her partnership and commitment to making the world a more inclusive place for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Pennsylvania serves more than 15,000 athletes around the state and all of our sports, health, and leadership programming is provided free of charge. Donations like these help us offset the cost of travel, equipment, and much more.”
Although Veterans Multi-Service Center could not attend the event, Joe Brooks, Executive Director, shared his appreciation in a statement: “On behalf of the Veterans Multi-Service Center, I extend our gratitude to Treasurer Garrity for this generous $7,000 donation of gift cards. This support will significantly enhance our ability to provide essential services and resources to Veterans in need. Treasurer Garrity’s commitment to our Veterans exemplifies true leadership and compassion, and we are thankful for her continued partnership in serving those who have served our country.”
The unclaimed property was turned over to the Treasury as mandated by state law. Most unclaimed property must be reported to Treasury after three years of dormancy. In the case of police departments, unclaimed property must be reported either three years from case adjudication or one year if there is no known owner.
This generous act marks another instance of the Treasury’s efforts to support local communities. With more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property awaiting claims, initiatives like this highlight the importance of returning resources to benefit the public.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.