Two Cedar Rapids Nonprofits Claim Lost "Treasure'

Related Media

GITH.jpg

DES MOINES, IA (11/08/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald was pleased to present two checks for a grand total of $20,487.20 from the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and the Mercy Medical Center Foundation on Wednesday. "It is my pleasure to return over $20,000 from the estate of Edna Herbst, an Iowa broadcasting pioneer," Fitzgerald stated. "There are many ways that we work to get money back to the rightful owners. In the case of a trust we always complete the owner's last wishes. After Edna's trust was turned over to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, we were able to do just that by distributing the funds to these two fine organizations."

"We are honored to receive this gift," said Les Garner, President & CEO of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to help realize Edna's dreams for the community."

The Community Foundation received a gift of $14,630 to be added to the Edna A. Herbst Fund, a permanently endowed fund benefitting the Cedar Rapids Public Library, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Orchestra Iowa, and the Funds for the Community at the Community Foundation used to address emerging community needs.

"We are pleased to accept this generous gift of $5,857.20 from the Edna Herbst estate. Edna was a wonderful friend of Mercy and her generous support for the mission over the years has impacted the hospital in a profound way. This gift, along with the other commitments she made to Mercy, supports the hospital's area of greatest need, especially in the area of patient care," said Sue Hawn, president of the Mercy Medical Center Foundation.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $169 million in unclaimed property to more than 406,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Corporations, business associations, financial institutions and companies across the nation report millions of dollars in unclaimed property to the state treasurer each year. Common examples of unclaimed property include money in forgotten savings and checking accounts, uncashed insurance benefit and payroll checks, lost stock and dividends, abandoned safe deposit box contents, gift cards, utility refunds or deposits.

Check the unclaimed property database to see if the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has property belonging to you. Simply visit greatiowatreasurehunt.com to begin your search.

###