Michigan and Ohio Battle to Find Forgotten Funds

by orionontv | Nov 24, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2025 Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167 Michigan and Ohio Battle to Find Forgotten Funds in Football Challenge during November Michiganders Encouraged to Find Lost or Unclaimed Property This Week LANSING, Mich. – Michiganders have a long-standing rivalry with our Buckeye neighbor to the south, especially during football season. This week, you too can channel your competitive Wolverine spirit and be part of Michigan’s blitz for the win. Michigan Unclaimed Property is challenging the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds to see which state’s residents can find and claim the most forgotten funds. Special focus is on the University of Michigan vs. the Ohio State University game on November 29, which will spotlight the sparring states’ “Find Forgotten Funds-Football Edition” competition. “This is a fun and spirited way to celebrate Michigan’s rivalry with ‘that state to the south’—and remind everyone who’s really on top,” said Terry Stanton, manager of Michigan Unclaimed Property. “The clock may run out on the game November 29, but there’s no time limit on claiming what’s yours. Unclaimed property is always available to its rightful owner.” All Michigan residents are encouraged to visit Michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty from now until November 30 to scoop up forgotten cash or property. Michigan Unclaimed Property is looking for a repeat performance of their 2023 Michigan-Ohio Challenge victory. At the midway point of the Challenge, Ohio holds a slim lead, so we need all of Michigan to get out there and search. Let’s win where it counts! Michigan has returned more than $675 million to rightful owners or their heirs over the last five years, and a quick online search could reunite you, your friends and your family members with a potential windfall, including long-lost: Checking and savings accounts Certificates of Deposit (CD) Over payments Uncashed Checks (payroll, refunds, money orders, cashier checks, insurance benefits, etc.) Dividends Stocks and bonds Contents of a safe deposit box As part of the home team, we want to award Michiganders the MVP (Most Valuable Property), but even more – we want our state to win the Find Forgotten Funds-Football Edition challenge. Rush to Michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty and let’s win where it counts.

Give the Gift that Lasts — College Tuition

by orionontv | Nov 24, 2025 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2025

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday Draw Near, MET Urges Families
to Give the Gift that
Lasts — College Tuition

Delta Township grandmother’s MET gifting tradition shows how small contributions, and this year’s bonus offer, can grow into a college future

LANSING — Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shoppers looking for meaningful gifts will find more than discounts at the Michigan Education Trust (MET) with seasonal bonuses added to a present that never goes out of style — prepaid college tuition.

For a limited time, MET is offering a special holiday bonus to encourage families to open or contribute to a prepaid tuition account, making this season the perfect time of year to give the gift of a college education.

With MET’s minimum contribution recently lowered to just $25, families can start a child’s college savings journey for less than many holiday stocking stuffers, while getting extra value in return with seasonal bonuses.

“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all about finding value,” said Diane Brewer, executive director of MET. “There’s simply no better long-term value than helping a child pay for college. MET gives families a way to start small and build a meaningful foundation for the future.”

For Sue Stock, a mom and grandmother from Delta Township, that small start more than 35 years ago turned into a family tradition and a life-changing investment.

Stock first purchased MET accounts for her sons, Jon and Chris, in 1988 after reading about the then-new program in the Lansing State Journal. Her mother encouraged her to open an account for each boy and Sue quickly embraced the idea. Soon, she began asking her parents, relatives and close friends to contribute to the boys’ MET accounts instead of traditional gifts for holidays and birthdays.

“MET became our version of holiday giving,” Stock said. “The boys didn’t need more toys. I wanted to give them something that would matter long after the wrapping paper was gone.”

Those early gifts paid off.

Chris used every dollar of his MET savings to earn his degree from Michigan State University, graduating in 2003. Free from significant student debt, he landed a job with NASA before moving into the supply chain marketing field.

“He got a degree with little or no debt,” Stock said. “That is truly a gift that keeps on giving.”

Jon’s path took another turn. He earned an accounting degree at Lansing Community College, where his tuition was covered because Sue was working at LCC at the time. Since Jon didn’t need to use his MET benefits, the account remained intact and is now helping fund the MET account of Jon’s daughter, Sue’s granddaughter.

“That’s the beauty of MET,” Stock said. “Even when life takes a different direction, nothing is lost. It still becomes part of the future.”

MET is putting a bow on it this holiday season to encourage families to follow Stock’s lead. With just a $25 minimum to open an account and digital gifting tools that allow grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to contribute directly, MET offers a way to replace short-lived presents with something that grows in value over time.

MET makes holiday gifting easy

• Start an account for just $25.
• Online gifting portal for fast contributions from anywhere.
• Prepaid tuition that locks in today’s rates.
• Flexible use for Michigan public universities, community colleges and even private or out-of-state schools.
• A gift that lasts a lifetime, not a single season.

Families can learn more or open a MET online.

From Nov. 29-Dec. 2, families who start or grow their college savings with MET prepaid tuition contract can receive a $50 Black Friday Bonus when they contribute at least $250.

And as an added bonus during the season of giving, the offer applies to both newly opened MET contracts and qualifying contributions made to existing MET contracts, making it an easy way for parents, grandparents and loved ones to turn a holiday gift into long-term opportunity. New purchasers must enter the coupon code BLKFRI25 at checkout to qualify. All contributions must be made in a single transaction through MET’s online payment system.

The bonus is limited to one $50 award per beneficiary. Funds will be deposited into qualifying MET contracts within eight to 10 weeks following verification.

Complete details and full eligibility requirements are available on MET’s website.

About MET

MET is Michigan’s Section 529 prepaid tuition program, allowing parents, grandparents and others to purchase undergraduate tuition credits at today’s rates. MET is administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

AG Issues Notice to Five Below Over Alleged Pricing Violations

by orionontv | Nov 21, 2025 | Regional News