Treasurer Encourages All Religious Organizations to Search Free Database at patreasury.gov
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than $1.3 million in the Pennsylvania Treasury's unclaimed property database belongs to places of worship and affiliated organizations across the Commonwealth, said State Treasurer Rob McCord today as his department initiated an outreach effort to reunite this property with its rightful owners.
"Religious organizations and institutions are often cornerstones of their communities. They offer support to many and charity to those in need," Treasurer McCord said. "We hold over $1.3 million in unclaimed property that is owed to churches, synagogues, religious schools and social service organizations across the state. We want to return that property so these institutions can continue to serve their neighbors."
The Treasurer noted that the $1.3 million his department holds is only a fraction of the $1.9 billion in unclaimed property Treasury now holds and seeks to reunite with businesses, organizations, and citizens. The Treasurer encouraged everyone to search Treasury's free unclaimed property database at www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A member of Treasury's Return Team will assist them with their search and the claim process.
In addition to returning funds to religious institutions and organizations, Treasurer McCord highlighted several tangible items such as Bibles, prayer books and hymnals that were just added to Treasury's eBay auction for unclaimed property at www.patreasury.gov. Tangible unclaimed property – things like jewelry, collectible coins, and medals – are kept in Treasury's vault. If attempts to locate the owner prove unsuccessful, the items are auctioned on eBay. Proceeds of the auction are then maintained for the owner to claim. The department takes great care to not sell any item that may have significance to a person or family.
Pennsylvania was the first state to have a continuous eBay unclaimed property auction, which has generated more than $4.3 million in revenue for the Commonwealth since it went live in 2001.
Each year, Treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property – things such as abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, and contents of safe deposit boxes. Since January 2009, the McCord Treasury has returned more than $321 million to rightful owners and generated about $300 million for the state's General Fund through the Unclaimed Property Program.
To learn more about Pennsylvania's Unclaimed Property Program or to search for property, visit www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046.
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Editor's note: Below find a sample of churches, congregations, synagogues and temples with unclaimed property, broken down by county. To find out if others have unclaimed property, please call (717) 787-2991 or search the free database at www.patreasury.gov.
Allegheny
Faith Christian School, Turtle Creek
Latter Day Saints Church, Pittsburgh
North Hill Christian School, Sewickley
St. John's Greek Church, East Pittsburgh
Beaver
Greek Catholic Union, Beaver
Bedford
James Lutheran Church, Osterburg
Berks
Holy Name High School, Reading
Bradford
Ghent Gospel Chapel, Ulster
Bucks
Deep Run Presbyterian Church, Perkasie
Jacobs Tabernacle Church, Langhorne
Womens Bible Readers Society, Doylestown
Butler
Fairview Presbyterian Church, Fairview
St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Butler
Cambria
Orthodox Ukrainian Church, Johnstown
Chester
Conservative Synagogue, Paoli
Cumberland
Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill
Dauphin
B'nai J Synagogue, Harrisburg
Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Harrisburg
Delaware
Little Lambs Christian Daycare Center, Boothwyn
Saint Edmonds Home for Children, Rosemont
Victory Apostolic Church, Chester
Erie
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie
Franklin
King Street United Brethren Church, Chambersburg
Lancaster
Catholic Charities Diocese of Harrisburg, Lancaster
Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church, Columbia
Deaf Christian Leadership Program, Lancaster
Rancks United Methodist Church, New Holland
Lawrence
Mahoning United Presbyterian Church, Pulaski
Wayside Emmanuel United Methodist Church, New Castle
Lebanon
Lebanon Christian Academy, Lebanon
Lehigh
Calvary Baptist Church, Allentown
Diocese of Allentown
Luzerne
Bishop O'Reilly High School, Kingston
Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Harveys Lake
Montgomery
Holy Redeemer Health System, Meadowbrook
Immanuel Church of Nazarene, Lansdale
Parkerford Church of the Brethren, Pottstown
Tyrannis Korean Presbyterian Church, Lansdale
Montour
Trinity Lutheran Church, Danville
Northampton
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem
Steel City Mennonite Church, Bethlehem
Northumberland
Delaware Run Wesleyan Church, Watsontown
Philadelphia
All Saints Episcopal Church, Philadelphia
Beth Midrash Harav Synagogue, Philadelphia
First Hungarian Catholic Charitable Organization, Philadelphia
Germantown Church Bowling League, Philadelphia
Open Door Mission Church Food Bank, Philadelphia
Potter
Eulalia Catholic Church, Coudersport
Schuylkill
Beth Israel Congregation, Mahanoy City
Washington
Abundant Life Baptist Church, Washington
Zollarsville Chapel United Methodist Church, Marianna
Westmoreland
Holy Family School, Latrobe
York
Hanovers 7th Day Adventist Church, Hanover
Red Lion Bible Church, Red Lion