Press release from Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia
ORLANDO, Fla. — Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the launch of Claim Your Cash Florida, a new statewide public awareness initiative to connect even more Floridians with their abandoned property. More than $3 billion in abandoned property is currently safeguarded by the State of Florida and waiting to be claimed. Claim Your Cash Florida introduces a new public-facing name and an enhanced website while continuing the work of Florida’s long-standing abandoned property program, administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property. Visit ClaimYourCashFL.Gov today to see if you have abandoned property waiting to be claimed.CFO Ingoglia also presented the University of Central Florida with a check for $41,716 in abandoned property. The University plans to reinvest these funds into its students by contributing them to the University of Central Florida Student Emergency Fund.“Floridians work too hard for their money to have any of it left behind,” said Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. “We’re launching Claim Your Cash Florida with one goal: get more money back into the hands of its rightful owners. This new initiative makes it easier for Floridians to understand and recognize this trusted State program, search for their money, and claim it. We were also proud to work with the University of Central Florida to reunite the university with its abandoned property and invest this money back into the student body.”“We know student success is a priority for the State of Florida. It is our top priority, too,” said John Buckwalter, UCF’s provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We want our students to stay on track and earn their degrees because we know what happens when they do: They launch and advance in meaningful careers; strengthen Florida’s workforce and economy; and change the trajectories of their own lives, their families, and the communities they will inhabit.”About 1 in 5 Floridians have abandoned property, which is not land or real estate, but money and other financial assets that have lost their connection to their rightful owner. Leaving this money behind can stem from everyday circumstances, such as a forgotten bank account, an uncashed paycheck, an insurance benefit, a utility deposit or refund, as well as stocks and securities.When businesses and financial institutions are unable to reconnect with an owner after the required period of time, Florida law requires abandoned property to be reported to the State, where it is safeguarded until it can be returned to its rightful owner…