Man Gives State of California $10,000 of His Own Free Will 3.51K Max Read 12/17/10 01:05AM Filed to: Money Money California Dennis ferguson Checks Unemployment Budget Deficit As repayment for unemployment benefits he collected in 1964, retiree Dennis Ferguson is helping California close its "massive" deficit with a check made out to the state for $10,000. Just 2.5 million more old guys and they're all set!