More than $21,000 in unclaimed property gift cards donated to nonprofit organizations

In August, Pennsylvania state Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that more than $21,000 in unclaimed property gift cards are being donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, and 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,” Garrity said. “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.”

The total balance of the gift cards is $21,662.42. It will be donated to the organizations as follows:

• Ronald McDonald House of Central PA: $7,281.48

• Special Olympics Pennsylvania: $7,200.00

• Veterans Multi-Service Center: $7,180.94

“We are so grateful to Treasurer Garrity and her team not only for this amazing donation of gift cards but her partnership and commitment to making the world a more inclusive place for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” said Josh Burke, executive director, Capital Area Region, Special Olympics Pennsylvania. “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.”

“On behalf of the Veterans Multi-Service Center, I extend our gratitude to Treasurer Garrity for this generous $7,000 donation of gift cards,” said Joe Brooks, executive director, Veterans Multi-Service Center. “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.”

According to Garrity’s announcement, the 53 gift cards, which are Target, Visa, and MasterCard gift cards, were 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.

The unclaimed property was reported to the Treasury following two separate investigations involving gift cards that were likely purchased with fraudulently obtained credit cards. Those investigations led to three arrests. These scams typically involve actors obtaining compromised credit card numbers and using them to purchase gift cards as a way to “wash” the funds.

Because the cards were reported to the Treasury with no information regarding the rightful owners, they are being donated to the nonprofits. Treasury has made similar donations several times in the past, including in 2019 and 2017.

Garrity further explained that unclaimed property can include things like dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more. State law requires most unclaimed property to be reported to the Treasury after three years of dormancy. In the case of police departments, unclaimed property must be reported to the Treasury three years from the date the case was adjudicated if there is a known owner, or one year if there is no known owner.

More information is available in the Treasury’s Holder Reporting Booklet. More than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property is currently waiting to be claimed. More than one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, and the average claim is worth about $1,600.

To search the Treasury’s unclaimed property database, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimedproperty.