PA Treasury Working to Return Over $1.3 Million in Unclaimed Property to Places of Worship, Faith-based Organizations, Says Treasurer McCord

Treasurer encourages all religious organizations to search free database at patreasury.gov

Harrisburg, PA, April 2, 2012 – 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.

Media contact: Elizabeth Foose, 717-787-2991 or news@patreasury.gov

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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

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