State Treasurer employs workers with disabilities for eBay auction
Neumann Family Services clients take photos of state’s unclaimed property

March 12, 2010

The State Treasurer’s eBay auction is currently showcasing the photography talent of persons with disabilities in support of National Developmental Disability Awareness Month.

For the past three years, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has teamed up with Chicago-based Neumann Family Services, which employs people with developmental disabilities and mental illness, to promote the state’s March eBay auctions. Five Neumann clients from Chicago took photographs of 120 items featured on the Treasurer’s eBay page. The images can be viewed by visiting www.treasurer.il.gov and clicking on the eBay logo.

“While the nation as a whole has struggled with an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, those with disabilities have had an even greater challenge as the unemployment rate for this segment of the population has historically been much higher,” Giannoulias said. “This partnership is a great opportunity to provide jobs for people with disabilities and for people in the community to support disabled workers by making purchases on the eBay web site.”

Colleen Rosa, Neumann’s director of development, said she is thrilled to continue the partnership with the Treasurer’s Office, which has increased job opportunities for clients who want to try their hand at photography. The partnership also highlights Neumann’s own online resale shop, Nue-to-You, which accepts donated items for its eBay auctions at its Ravenswood headquarters.

“The partnership has been wonderful. It’s given more individuals with disabilities a chance to work in our eBay business. We call in extra people to handle the photography so it gives others a chance to try out the job to see if they have that skill,” Rosa said. “We really appreciate all the Treasurer has done to support people with disabilities by providing them with employment opportunities.”

The state’s auction items are unclaimed property from safe deposit boxes that have been lost or abandoned at banks and other financial institutions throughout the state for at least five years. If the owner is not found, those financial institutions must turn over the contents to the Treasurer’s Office. The office then publishes the names of the owners in local newspapers and in an online database in hopes of reuniting them with their property. If the owner does not come forward, the items are sold on eBay and the proceeds are held for the rightful owner of heir.

The state’s eBay auctions have generated more than $580,000 in new revenue since they began in 2007, including more than $190,000 in 2009.