HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s Treasury Department donated about $1,600 in unclaimed musical instruments Thursday to a nonprofit that will direct them to Harrison-Morton Middle School in Allentown, expanding access for students unable to afford their own equipment.
The donation to the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society included a keyboard, violin, cello, eight guitars, tom drum, snare drum, cases and accessories.
Representatives from the nonprofit and Allentown School District received the instruments in Harrisburg and toured Treasury’s unclaimed-property vault.
“This incredible gift allows us to lend instruments to more young musicians, remove financial barriers, and expand our music program,” Harrison-Morton band and orchestra director Jessika Gross stated.
Police departments and colleges had transferred the instruments to Treasury after their owners could not be identified, according to the department.
State law permits Treasury to donate tangible property when the owner is unknown and the items cannot be returned. The department has made similar nonprofit donations in the past, including earlier this year.
Treasury’s vault also holds jewelry, coins, collectibles and other items, most often from abandoned safe-deposit boxes. The unclaimed-property program also handles dormant bank accounts, abandoned securities and uncashed checks.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity reported that the department has returned more than $1 billion in unclaimed property, with more than $5 billion still awaiting claims. Treasury estimates that more than one in 10 Pennsylvania residents is owed property and that the average claim exceeds $1,000.
The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society is a nonprofit supporting Pennsylvania musicians, the state’s musical heritage and youth music education.
Residents can search Treasury’s unclaimed-property database at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.
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