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Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Theft of booster funds leaves wide wake
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the triage of illegal behavior, stealing money from a school booster club probably ranks in the “minor” category. But it sure does get under my skin.
In recent days there have been two reports of theft from school-related but parent-controlled programs in Gwinnett. A Grayson man was charged in one and a warrant for a Snellville woman was sought in another.
Grayson High School’s wrestling team booster club is missing an undetermined amount estimated to range from $19,000 to $40,000. A former treasurer of the group was charged with four counts of theft by taking, involving amounts totaling about $8,000.
At Parkview High School, the U.S. Marine Corps Junior ROTC program is missing an estimated $14,576. A warrant has been sought for a Snellville woman in connection with the loss.
At this point, both of the cases involve only charges and accusations - no convictions.
A simple search of the Internet, however, reveals that thefts from booster clubs and similar organizations are not uncommon or isolated. Datelines range from Texas to Encina, Calif.; Colorado to Topeka, Kan.; and Shreveport, La. to Georgia’s Peachtree City. And that’s the top of the list.
The crimes are ones of opportunity committed when financial controls are too relaxed, according to an article in Athletic Management magazine. In many cases - the thief intends to pay the money back but just never does, the article said.
Such intentions don’t get my sympathetic juices flowing.
Here’s why:
Stealing money from nonprofit groups such as booster clubs is a crime with widely felt effects. It’s not just about money. It”s about trust and community and role models.
Thefts of this type not only hurt the students and parents in a club. They can chip at the confidence in and future support of that organization. The betrayal is felt by the grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors and businesses who donate money to the causes. The breach of trust can even leapfrog into suspicions within and about other non-profits.
There are schools, I’m sure, that are blessed to have deep-pocketed donors who can fill up the coffers. Most schools are not that fortunate. For them, the cash comes in at a painstakingly slow pace and at great sacrifice.
The dollars that a thief finds so irresistible are raised by students and parents working untold hours canvassing neighborhoods to sell doughnuts or gift wrap or candy or discount cards. (In the case of the Grayson club, members sold meat as a fund-raiser.)
Money often is raised in bake sales, walk-a-thons, car washes, talent shows and pageants. Local businesses give donations as sponsorships.
All of this effort is led by volunteers— many of them parents who already work another job outside the home. They do it to pay for equipment, uniforms, travel expenses, special instruction or other costs - all for the kids.
In the Grayson case, the wrestling team originally planned to use its money to build a training room. When a room became available through other means, the club wanted to spend the money on wrestling mats, additional uniforms, training costs and trips to competitions.
Due largely to the theft, the club ended the season with $94 dollars in the till.
I could find no reliable numbers on booster clubs or booster club thefts. It appears obvious that the large majority of booster organizations are operated ethically by people who can be trusted. Many have strict financial controls. That should remembered to provide proper perspective for such crimes.
But those who do stray into the booster accounts, those who not only steal money, but also hours of planning and hard work, a belief in the goodness of human beings and a decent role model - in my mind - are guilty of more than a “minor” crime.
What’s your opinion?
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