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DEL.ICIO.USTheft 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?
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Susan Gast
Comments
By One Man's View
May 8, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
I guess the alleged perpetrators won’t be attending club functions in the future where they once pretended to be interested in the welfare of others. How does one develop the capacity to smile at someone one moment and steal the next?
It must be pretty traumatic to be the child of such a person. The one person that you think you can trust betrays your teammates. What a sickening feeling.
By BobG
May 8, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
I’m sure that this can be tied back to the Snellville City Council and Emmet Clower.
Joe Anderson is on the case.
By Caroline
May 8, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Buford’s Band Booster Club was robbed by one of its parents many, many years ago. This type of theft is not new but it is still tramatic to the kids.
By TC
May 8, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Maybe the readers will find a way to help these kids. I’m sure that donations and opportunities to earn money would be a true blessing to them.
By K.
May 8, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this
As the parent of a child entering the public school system, I do not plan to help these thieves pad their pockets. The Booster Club funds go largely unmonitored, without checks and balances, and into the pockets of the “well intended”.
By goldram
May 9, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Shame on these people who have stolen from the money allocated for these schools. Parents and students alike have worked hard to build up funds for this and it’s a big shame on the family, plus the wrestling thief had girls going to the high school where he stole from. You should see the house he lives in too.(A big nice one).I think some of us lives a false way of life to look rich, when deep down we cannot be trusted.
By Gandalf, the Grey
May 9, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
I hope there is a special place in hell for the scum that steals from charity!
By Dave
May 9, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
I am one of those booster club parents who is certainly disheartened to hear about the thefts that took place by booster club members. I have two daughters that are in the band at their high school and I run the band concession stand during the football season. I, along with many volunteers, have spent countless hours “working” to help raise money for our band booster club. The only thing we get in return is the satisfaction that we know we our helping our children. It is amazing that there are two stories about thieves who decide to steal from their school and from their children and all of a sudden all booster clubs are being condemned. My guess would be that 99% of the booster clubs are being run properly and honestly. Our band could not exist without these funds. The county/school provides very little assistance for these programs. The stories of these thieves are terrible, but when I hear parents say that they would never work for these organizations because “they don’t want to help these theives (booster clubs) pad their pockets,” that is almost more disheartening. My guess is that this parent would not need much help to avoid volunteering to help their child’s school anyway…this gives them a nice excuse. Please do not condemn all booster clubs because of a few bad apples. I would ask Susan Gast to look into the good that these booster clubs do as well. It is easy to write a story like this one.
By Mike Bennett
May 9, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Susan,
I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts that these thefts are more than a “minor crime”.
The lack of character in some people is very discouraging BUT there are many more that help to rebuild these programs and to them I say thank you!
Our program will prevail regardless of these acts
By Susan Gast
May 12, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Dave, I in no way meant to disparage all booster clubs — in fact I said that the large majority are operated ethically by people who care and that many have strict financial controls. I currently help the band booster club at my son’s school and over the years have been involved in booster clubs for sports and other teams in which my children have participated. I agree that they do a tremendous amount of good. I have full respect for the jobs done by the current treasurers in our band organization. I just hate to hear about situations in which advantage is taken….
By Happy
May 12, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Maybe these organizations could find a reputable accountant (or a parent who is an accountant) who would provide a check in balance pro bono (that is what an organization I belonged to did). Require any checks written to have two signatures. Officers review the finances on a bi-monthly basis. Do background check of anyone who handles money. Devise a process by which all monies are handled that would better guard against the likelihood of theft.
By Parent
May 13, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
Grayson wrestling booster club has elected a new board which has put into place a lot of new things to prevent this ever happening again. Meantime, as parents we are trying to come up with other fundraiser’s due to the severity of our loss to aid our children. Thanks for your support during our time of need!
By jes8
May 14, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
The person that did this is not a bad man, but he did make a bad decision. I think the most important thing to remember is that the kids are not at fault here. They are still a part of our wrestling family and need our support now more than ever. I can’t wait to hear the roar of the crowd next season when he takes the mat!
By Atico
May 14, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Some folks just can’t pass up an easy touch for money regarless of where and how the money is generated. It is well know that charities, including Christian charites lose billions of dollars each year to theft. I feel that when these individuals are caught and found guilty they should serve a jail sentence of at least 2 to five years. Giving this type person other than jail time keeps the cycle going. Jail time would be somewhat of a deterrent. These people are full of greed, nothing more.
By RamFan
May 14, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
jes8 I am sorry but this does make the person a bad man. It wasn’t just a bad decision. He wrote himself a check more than once. A bad decision is making a wrong turn somewhere, stealing is stealing and I hope he gets punished as such. He took advantage of a position and peoples trust for his own personal selfish gain at the expense of those kids and those entering the program for the next several years. I hope he has to make retribution. Programs like this should have a check system in place. Instead of one person being able to sign off on checks you should have two signatures required.
By RamFan
May 14, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
jes8 I am sorry but this does make the person a bad man. It wasn’t just a bad decision. He wrote himself a check more than once. A bad decision is making a wrong turn somewhere, stealing is stealing and I hope he gets punished as such. He took advantage of a position and peoples trust for his own personal selfish gain at the expense of those kids and those entering the program for the next several years. I hope he has to make retribution. Programs like this should have a check system in place. Instead of one person being able to sign off on checks you should have two signatures required.
By RamFan
May 14, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
jes8 I am sorry but this does make the person a bad man. It wasn’t just a bad decision. He wrote himself a check more than once. A bad decision is making a wrong turn somewhere, stealing is stealing and I hope he gets punished as such. He took advantage of a position and peoples trust for his own personal selfish gain at the expense of those kids and those entering the program for the next several years. I hope he has to make retribution. Programs like this should have a check system in place. Instead of one person being able to sign off on checks you should have two signatures required.