T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack, right, presents an oversized check Wednesday representing unclaimed funds that he returned to The Health Plan, represented by Chief Financial Officer Ryan Ralston, left, and President and CEO Jeff Knight.

WHEELING — The Health Plan was able to reclaim more than $32,000 that West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack said had become “lost in the financial shuffle” on Wednesday as part of the state’s efforts to return unclaimed funds to their rightful owners.

Pack visited the organization’s Downtown Wheeling headquarters to present a check for $32,571.84. Pack stressed that he was simply returning money that rightfully belonged to The Health Plan.

“We’re at The Health Plan here today in Wheeling, and we returned to them about $32,000 in property that was their money that somehow got lost in the financial shuffle, and we’re glad to identify that and work with them to get that money back to them today. We’re sure they can use it and put it to good use … It’s always great to be here. They do a lot of good work in this part of the state, so we’re glad to help them.”

Pack said a big part of his office’s work is handling unclaimed funds, noting that it has about $400 million of West Virginians’ money. He said his staff works hard to return that money to the rightful owners.

According to a news release, Pack’s office returned more than $1.2 million to individuals, organizations and businesses in West Virginia during the month of August. On Wednesday, he said the office returned about $400 million during the last fiscal year.

Pack noted that the reason he does public presentations when returning unclaimed funds is to help ensure media coverage of his office’s activities and to make people aware that unclaimed funds may be available to them.

Jeff Knight, president and CEO of The Health Plan, said it was nice to get some funds back on Wednesday.

“Well, I’m sure we’re going to give it back to the community as well, hopefully reducing costs for our members and … obviously helping the community,” Knight said of plans for the money.

He noted that each year, The Health Plan gives away about $500,000 in scholarships to medical students, including doctors and nurses. Nearly $500,000 in additional donations go to food banks across the Mountain State, he added.

“So we feel like we’re trying to do our part in helping our communities as well,” he said.

For more information about the Unclaimed Property program, visit WVUnclaimedProperty.gov.