$59K in unclaimed raffle winnings going to area charities

EAST LANSING - Michigan State University football spectators left nearly $60,000 in 50/50 raffle winnings unclaimed, so the university is now donating the money to several charities.

A combined $59,272.50 raised during MSU's home football games against Oregon and Central Michigan University earlier this year will be distributed to 16 local charities, said Paul Schager, executive associate athletic director for external relations.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank will receive $10,000 of the donated funds, the largest amount announced, followed by the MSU Food Bank at $6,772.50. Area homeless shelters, including Volunteers of America, Gateway Community Services, City Rescue Mission and Haven House will each receive $2,500, according to the news release from the MSU Athletic Department.

This is the second time MSU Food Bank has benefited from unclaimed raffle winnings in recent years, said Nate Smith-Tyge, the program's director. The first was courtesy of the MSU Rebounders Club, which donated unclaimed basketball raffle winnings a few years ago, he said.

More than 4,000 MSU students and family members receive food assistance during the academic year from the MSU Food Bank, Smith-Tyge said. The food bank serves more graduate students than undergraduates, he said, noting international students also make up a large proportion of the program's beneficiaries.

In partnership with Feeding America and the Greater Lansing Food Bank, Smith-Tyge said the outfit is often able to purchase food at 60 percent below wholesale pricing.

"We say to people, if you're going to go to the store and spend a dollar buying a canned good to donate, you're better off simply donating the dollar, which we can use to buy three cans," he said.

While many students return home for the holidays, Smith-Tyge said those who do stay in the East Lansing area continue to need the resources offered by the MSU Food Bank.Upcoming food distribution during exam week will help these students get by during the holidays until the start of the new year, he said.

The donations represent the prospective winner's share of the two 50/50 raffles, with the other half going to the MSU Athletic Department for athletic scholarships as well as compensation for local ticket-selling groups, he said.

Unclaimed raffle winnings are a rarity in recent years, Schager said. This fall’s unclaimed winnings are the only time since the department took over raffle responsibilities in 2013 when money raised during football games has gone unclaimed.

Raffle tickets were available to attendees of home football games this year at a cost of $5 for 3 tickets, $10 for 10 tickets and $20 for 40 tickets.

Cash prizes from MSU athletic events have only gone unclaimed five times in more than 120 athletic events held since the 2013-14 academic year, according to an athletic department news release.

Other nonprofits benefiting from the unclaimed winning include: Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club, Ele’s Place, the ChadTough Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Magic Foundation, MSU Safe Place, the Sparrow Foundation, Special Olympics and United Way.

Prospective winners had until Nov. 11 and Nov. 25 respectively to claim the winnings from the Oregon and CMU games. Funds are held for 60 days by the department while a winner in sought. The unclaimed winnings can then be donated to charities approved by the Michigan Lottery Commission.

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.