State Treasurer Helps DMPS Recover Lost Treasure
State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald presents Superintendent Tom Ahart with a check from the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.
State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald was pleased to present a check for over $65,000 from the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to Superintendent Thomas Ahart of Des Moines Public Schools at Smouse Opportunity School in Des Moines.
“We are all partners in ensuring that we take care of our students and teachers,” Fitzgerald said. “I am happy to get this money back into the hands Superintended Ahart and the Des Moines School Independent Community School District.”
Treasurer Fitzgerald encourages all Iowans to check the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website at greatiowatreasurehunt.com for forgotten treasures. “We have over a million names in our database with over 197,000 of them in Polk County alone,” said Fitzgerald. “Unclaimed property isn’t just for individuals. I encourage people to search for their local churches, schools, and businesses.”
“In public education, we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in making the best use of our resources in educating our students and supporting our teachers,” said Superintendent Ahart. “We appreciate this effort by Treasurer Fitzgerald and the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, and hope it is a reminder to other public entities to check for unclaimed property.”
Today’s presentation took place at Smouse Opportunity School because the largest portion of the funds – more than $57,000 in stock value – was part of the school’s trust fund.
“For me, it’s amazing how much Dr. Smouse means to this school more than 80 years after it was founded, not only continuing the vision he had for a school that would best serve our students but also the ongoing financial support,” said principal Leslie Timmerman. “That financial support comes in ways both large and small. For example, a member of his family sends us a check each and every Christmas. Or last year, when mineral rights he left to our school in his will, on a piece of land in Texas, resulted in a payment of nearly $1.2 million. And today is one more example.”
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.
Go to greatiowatreasurehunt.com to search for your treasure today.
