IT TAKES 2
TO PREVENT
SCHOOL
FUNDRAISING
THEFT
WHY TALK ABOUT THEFT?
School fundraising is a $4.5 billion business, but it's not an ordinary business. School parent teacher organizations and high school booster clubs are managed by parent volunteers on a part-time basis and must deal with nearly 100% turnover each year. These dedicated parent boosters are the heroes behind most of the extracurricular activities that make childhood great, but they need simple solutions to help them manage the money raised.
More than a $1 million a year, likely much more, is stolen from school fundraising groups.
It happens because the trust level is high, and there is little help for parent boosters on how to operate these groups. We provide the tools and training schools and their volunteers need, including our theft prevention program, an easy-to-implement, simple way to stop school fundraising theft. We partnered with Amy Luebbe, a mom and school volunteer to develop our school theft prevention program. Amy was convicted of stealing from the high school spirit store where she volunteered. She stole from the store for nearly two years before being caught. She had no prior record, a good paying job, and a devoted husband and daughter. Now she’s giving back by telling her story and helping us provide this simple theft prevention solution. Says Amy, “I want something good to come out of this.”

PARTNERED WITH

Parent Booster USA is proud to announce a new partnership with MySchoolBucks!
Accept credit cards anywhere – online or in-person with MySchoolBucks – and give your school support organization the financial control and accountability it needs!
Learn MoreTHE THREE KEY STEPS
School fundraising organizations are not your ordinary small business. These groups are run by a small teams of dedicated volunteers; volunteers that need easy-to-use solutions to track and report on funds raised, and keep the money safe. Implementing PBUSA’s simple three-step program, however, will significantly reduce the opportunity for people to steal school organization funds.

2 TO COUNT CASH
Never count cash alone! If you do nothing else… never count cash
alone! At least two unrelated people should count cash. Cash should be counted
onsite, where it is collected, on a daily basis. The cash counters should write down the day’s
income on a cash tally sheet and sign the sheet. The funds should then be deposited immediately into
the group’s bank account. Both the tally sheet and the deposit slip should be kept with the
organization’s financial records and used when reconciling the bank account.

2 TO SIGN CHECKS
Requiring two unrelated people to sign each check significantly reduces risk of theft. The
two signature rule should be included in your group’s bylaws, and also should be imprinted on
the checks. Never pre-sign checks. To reduce the burden of obtaining the needed
signatures, some groups have the check signers meet regularly at the school, such as once a
week, before or after school to handle the check writing.

2 TO RECONCILE BANK STATEMENTS
Bank statements should be reconciled within 30 days of the date the statement is issued. It
is best to separate duties and have someone without check signing authority or cash counting
duties reconcile the bank account. If this is not possible, a non-signer should review the monthly
bank statements, reconciliation report,cash tally sheets and deposit slips. Simply requiring
all these documents to be available at meetings is a huge deterrent to theft…
and if the documents are never available this is big red flag that something may be wrong.
The Embezzler Next Door
10:00 minutes
In The Embezzler Next Door you learn that Amy, the church-going wife and mother who stole from her daughter’s school is not unique. More than one story a week comes out; more than $1 million a year is stolen. More importantly, you learn why ordinary people steal and how to take simple steps to stop theft at your school.
Bobbie Blair, ?
Central Jr. High School PTSA - Moore, OK
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when check from account failed to clear
$5,100 STOLEN
Erica Wabno , 38
Seymour HS Wildcat Kick Off Club - Seymour, CT
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card, checks, pocketed cash • Caught during audit of account
$8,762 STOLEN
Allison Hartoonian, 28
Bergman School Booster Club - Harrison, AR
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from concession stand • Caught when club account was insufficient
$21,256 STOLEN
Christina Saunders , 33
Matoaca Elementary School PTA - Chester, VA
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when other PTA members reported missing money to police
$7,000 STOLEN
Chantel Racquelle Reliford, 32
West Rowan Middle School Band Booster Club - Salisbury, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals and use of bank card • Caught when money needed for a trip payment was not in the bank
$14,000 STOLEN
Michelle Gates, ?
Moore Lady Lions Softball Association - Moore, OK
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals and use of bank card • Caught when negative balance was discovered
$4,458 STOLEN
Mary Humphreys, ?
Fultondale Elementary School PTA - Fultondale, AL
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card and cash withdrawals • Caught when bank statement showed unusual activity
$10,000 STOLEN
Laurie Saitta, 47
Boxford Elementary School PTO - Boxford, MA
Charged with / How caught?
Improper cash withdrawals, unauthorized use of debit card • Caught when bank noticed inappropriate transactions and alerted PTO president
$11,000 STOLEN
Amanda Farr, 36
Southwood High Robotics Booster Club - Shreveport, LA
Charged with / How caught?
Money from fundraisers deposited in personal acct • Caught after an audit
$2,800 STOLEN
Michelle Ramsey, 51
Mayfield HS Band Booster Club - Las Cruces, NM
Charged with / How caught?
Cashed band checks for personal use • Caught when club president asked to see financials
$20,630 STOLEN
Jennifer Travers, 47
Beechwood Knoll Elementary PTO - Quincy, MA
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals, unauthorized use of debit card • Caught when incoming treasurer reviewed bank records
$28,051 STOLEN
?, ?
South Johnston HS Band Booster Club - Four Oaks, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Investigation ongoing...
$? STOLEN
Kirsten Meyer, 38
Alvarado HS Band Boosters - Alvarado, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized withdrawals • Caught when account was overdrawn and club president got suspicious
$46,000 STOLEN
?, ?
Montgomery County Council of PTAs - ?, MD
Charged with / How caught?
Investigation ongoing...
$39,000 STOLEN
Michelle R. Adas, 50
Cherokee HS Drama Booster Club - Canton, GA
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized withdrawals with debit card and checking account • Caught when school discovered the continuous withdrawals
$5,260 STOLEN
Tammy Szrejna, 43
Skinner Road School PTO - Vernon, CT
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed money from a book fair fundraiser • Caught when book fair bill was not paid
$2,416 STOLEN
JoAnn Maldonado, 42
Waiakea Intermedia School Ukulele Band Booster Club - Hilo, HI
Charged with / How caught?
Caught after false report of burglary and police investigation indicated she staged burglary and took the money herself
$10,000 STOLEN
Christy Bowne, 43
Crestwood Intermediate School PTO - Mantua, OH
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card • No info on how caught
$2,408 STOLEN
Craig Piekarski, ?
Beaver Dam HS Booster Club - Beaver Dam, WI
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from concession stand • Caught when proceeds were noticeably down and an audit was conducted
$6,466 STOLEN
Elena Ratti, 38
Patriots Booster Club (Secaucus HS) - Secaucus, NJ
Charged with / How caught?
Suspicious activity reported to police • Caught after investigation and audits
$25,000 STOLEN
Melissa Henriquez, 39
Rutland HS Soccer Booster Club - Macon, GA
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash and ATM withdrawals • Caught when confronted by school officials about missing funds
$2,800 STOLEN
Elizabeth Gomez Llanez, 45
Robert Vela HS Booster Club - Edinburg, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash and debit card withdrawals • Caught when BC President noticed money was missing
$9,900 STOLEN
Autumn Dillavou, 37
Central Springs HS Athletic Booster Club - Manly, IA
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when 2 booster club members went to sheriff about missing money
$9,334 STOLEN
Douglas Gene Barrow, 44
Walker Charter Academy PTO - Grand Rapids, MI
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when allegations of fraud surfaced
$36,400 STOLEN
Vannesa Rodriguez, 27
Victoria Walker Elementary School PTO - Baytown, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card, unauthorized cash and ATM withdrawals • Caught when bank account was discovered overdrawn and she was the only one with account access
$100,000 STOLEN
Latoya Rhodes, 32
Pine Forest High School Athletic Booster Club - Fayetteville, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from concession stand sales • Caught by surveillance camera in stand
$? STOLEN
Kiley Degarmo, 35
McGuffey Cheerleaders Booster Club - Claysville, PA
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from concession stand sales • Caught when they failed to produce receipts and cash generated from the sales
$1,800 STOLEN
Shannon S. Justice & Crystal R. Rummage, 36 & 43
Churchland Elementary School PTO - Davidson, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when current PTO reported money missing from the account.
$? STOLEN
Dawn Thomas & Jack Smallwood, 44 & 56
Thomson High School Band Boosters - Thomson, GA
Charged with / How caught?
?
$? STOLEN
Amanda Johns, ?
Clinton High School Band Boosters - Clinton, IA
Charged with / How caught?
Transferred booster club money to herpersonal bank account; wrote checks toherself • Caught when new officers were told the account was overdrawn
$38,354 STOLEN
TBD, ?
Ponder High School Band Boosters - Ponder, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Still under investigation • Caught by suspicious parents
$20,000 STOLEN
Kori Plotner, 38
West Branch Band Booster Club - Clearfield, PA
Charged with / How caught?
Stole cash from fundraisers thensubmitted false treasurer reports • Caught when suspicious parentschecked the bank account
$19,609 STOLEN
Bruce Bailey, 59
Minnetonka Nordic Booster Club & Minnetonka Track and Field Assoc. - Minnetonka, MN
Charged with / How caught?
Transferred money from 1st clubsaccount to personal bank account, thenstole money from 2nd club to pay back1st club • Caught when confronted by schools athletic director
$6,800 STOLEN
Dana Tucker, ?
Scott High School Eagle Club - Taylor Mill, KY
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals • Caughtwhen new officers discovereddiscrepancies when reviewing finances
$1,800 STOLEN
Tracy Martuscello, ?
Shaker High School All Sports Booster Club - Colonie, NY
Charged with / How caught?
Wrote checks to herself
$6,000 STOLEN
Donna Moore, ?
Blackman High School Boys Soccer Booster Club - Murfreesboro, TN
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of credit card,pocketed cash • Caught when irregularities were notedin the clubs accounts
$6,989 STOLEN
Stephanie Bechtel, 41
Pottstown High School Wrestling Booster Club - Norristown, PA
Charged with / How caught?
Checks required 2 signatures, sheforged co-signers name • Caught when bank questioned theforged signature
$4,977 STOLEN
A former treasurer, ?
Coyote Booster Club - Alice, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized ATM withdrawals • Checkswritten to herself • Caught during audit
$53,067 STOLEN
Gina Csontos, 43
Sunlake HS Band Boosters - Land-o-Lakes, FL
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when unusual activity and improper allocations were noticed
$46,000 STOLEN
Laverne J. Tigges, 47
Buckeye Valley Joint Boosters - Delaware, OH
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when questioned by suspicious group members
$20,000 STOLEN
Kathleen Lowery, ?
Jefferson County HS Band Boosters - Dandridge, TN
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized withdrawals • Pocketed cash from fundraiser
$12,827 STOLEN
Cecilia Braaten, 36
Hollydale School Parent-Teacher Club - Gresham, OR
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from fundraisers • Unauthorized withdrawals • Unauthorized use of debit card
$23,885 STOLEN
Amy Hardy Smith, 35
W.B. Beam Intermediate School PTO - Gastonia, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Forged check to herself
$690 STOLEN
Jennifer Trimmer, ?
Shawnee Elementary PTA - Easton, PA
Charged with / How caught?
No details at this time
$34,000 STOLEN
Amanda Tiner, 30
Angie Grant Elementary Parent Teacher Association - Benton, AR
Charged with / How caught?
Funds were missing • Admitted to authorities that she took money
$9,000 STOLEN
Rees, 53
Parent Teacher Student Association and Lacrosse Booster Club at Esperanza High School - Anaheim, CA
Charged with / How caught?
Forged checks for her own benefit from both organizations
$50,000 STOLEN
Armbruster, 36
Lewton Parent Teacher Organization - Lansing, MI
Charged with / How caught?
Wrote checks to herself and forged signatures
$3,800 STOLEN
Sheryl Myers, 41
Berkeley County Elementary School PTO - Martinsburg, WV
Charged with / How caught?
Made unauthorized purchases and could not provide receipts
$4,000 STOLEN
Tracy Kotke, 45
Indian Knoll School PTO and preschool PTO group - Chicago, IL
Charged with / How caught?
Wrote checks to herself from the organizations account • The money was discovered missing because she was unable to provide financial records
$15,000 STOLEN
Melissa Hinnant, ?
South Brunswick High School Athletic Booster Club - Wilmington, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Used the Booster clubs money to purchase items for personal use
$1,400 STOLEN
Stacy Torre, ?
Santa Fe HS Cheer Booster Club - Edmond, OK
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized charge to booster club account • Caught by sanctioning procedures that highlighted inappropriate spending practices
$14,095 STOLEN
Ashley Duerson, 32
Silver Creek Elementary School PTO - Berea, KY
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from fundraisers • Caught when new treasurer discovered money missing from bank account
$12,150 STOLEN
Leslie Gamble, 38
The Supporting Cast, Bedford HS - Monroe, MI
Charged with / How caught?
Wrote unauthorized checks to herself • Caught when treasurer wouldnt turn over checkbook and president got suspicious • Discovered bank account was nearly empty
$10,000 STOLEN
Shannon Hirsh, 40
Norterra Canyon Elementary PTSA - Phoenix, AZ
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash • Unauthorized withdrawals from PTA bank account • Caught when PTSA officer noticed the bank account was nearly empty
$60,000 STOLEN
Suzanne Olney, 45
Parent Teacher Association at P.S. 216 - Brooklyn, NY
Charged with / How caught?
Made multiple unauthorized online transfers from the PTA account to her personal account • Tried to transfer $10,000 back to the PTA account when they asked her about it, but there was still $4,000 unaccounted for
$14,000 STOLEN
William Elzy "Bo" Kelley, Jr., 53
West Brook HS Football Booster Club - Beaumont, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card; unauthorized cash withdrawals, wrote fraudulent checks and checks to himself • Caught when treasurer discovered bank account was nearly empty
$30,000 STOLEN
Jennifer Ann Matuska, 34
Taylor Elementary PTO - Stockton, CA
Charged with / How caught?
Caught when teachers discovered the PTO bank account was emptied and closed
$25,101 STOLEN
Kimesha Chong-Wing, 40
Rydal Elementary School PTO - Abington, MA
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of PTO bank card • Uauthorized cash withdrawals • Caught when PTO officer reviewed bank account and found unauthorized transactions
$19,798 STOLEN
Carrie Kluge, 54
Papermaker Booster Club - Kimberly, WI
Charged with / How caught?
No details at this time • Caught by incoming treasurerconcerned with financialinconsistencies
$49,000 STOLEN
Lesley Darrin, 40
Girls Basketball, Midget Football Association, and HS Softball Booster Clubs - Susquehanna Township, PA
Charged with / How caught?
No details at this time • Caught when money was discoveredmissing from bank accounts
$39,000 STOLEN
Steven Wyatt, 43
North County HS Athletic Booster Club - Glen Burnie, MD
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals and charges from booster club debit card • Caught when he failed to produce reports to meet HS financial disclosure requirements
$17,000 STOLEN
Therese Foote, 49
Bucks Gym II Booster Club - Falls Township, PA
Charged with / How caught?
Set up unauthorized bank accounts • Sole access to all bank accounts • Falsified reports • Caught during leadership transition • Reports were vague & lacked supporting documentation
$161,319 STOLEN
Tracy Rhadigan, 33
Switzer Elementary School PTO - Shelby Township, MI
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized cash withdrawals • Unauthorized use of PTO debit card • Caught when PTO president discovered the PTO bank account was nearly empty
$68,000 STOLEN
Sarah Chiarelli, 34
Stepney Elementary PTO - Monroe, CT
Charged with / How caught?
Sole access to accounts • Cash withdrawals • Wrote fraudulent checks and checks to herself • Unauthorized use of club credit card • Caught when discrepancies were reported in PTO bank accounts • Audit
$45,000 STOLEN
Christine Honohan, 37
Hatton Elementary School PTO - Southington, CT
Charged with / How caught?
Cash withdrawals • Checks to herself • Unauthorized use of PTO debit card • Caught by suspicious PTO members
$6,000 STOLEN
Ernest "Todd" �Bowers, 51
Watkins Memorial HS Band Boosters - Newark, OH
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized use of debit card
$25,000 STOLEN
Deana Braaten, 49
Stoughton Viking Wrestling Club - Stoughton, WI
Charged with / How caught?
No details at this time
$86,000 STOLEN
Saby Levens, 44
St. Francis HS Choir Boosters - St. Francis, MN
Charged with / How caught?
Sole access to checking acct & debit card • Unauthorized purchases & withdrawals
$15,000 STOLEN
Jaimee Finney, 44
Charleston HS Trojan Booster Club - Charleston, IL
Charged with / How caught?
Took cash from concession stand • Caught when money was missing & surveillance camera was placed in stand
$4,000 STOLEN
Christina Sawyer, 33
Lebanon Road Elementary School - Mint Hill, NC
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized procurement of a debit card on PTA account for purchases and cash withdrawals • Sole access to account • Caught by suspicious school board members
$? STOLEN
Maurine Moore, 59
Warren Township HS Band Boosters - Gurnee, IL
Charged with / How caught?
Unauthorized withdrawals • Caught by suspicious new treasurer who requested an internal audit
$26,000 STOLEN
Kathleen McGrath, 57
Chatfield HS Spikers Booster Club - Littleton, CO
Charged with / How caught?
Fraudulent checks • Recorded false entries in records • Caught making purchases & withdrawals unrelated to booster club activities
$9,976 STOLEN
Winifred Wright, 33
Sappington Elementary PTO - Sappington, MO
Charged with / How caught?
Wrote checks to herself • Recorded false entries in records • Unauthorized withdrawals • Pocketed cash from fundraisers • Caught when she didnt show up for transition meeting with new treasurer
$35,000 STOLEN
"Former Member", Unknown
Orenco Elementary School Booster Club - Hillsboro, OR
Charged with / How caught?
Caught by suspicious board member
$1,800 STOLEN
Patricia Burton, 49
Pittsburg HS Band Boosters - Pittsburg, TX
Charged with / How caught?
Fraudulent checks • Unauthorized use of credit card • Caught by school districts random audit
$24,000 STOLEN
Ralph Winterburn, 53
Tamaqua Boys Basketball Boosters - Tamaqua, PA
Charged with / How caught?
Falsified deposits • Falsified treasurers reports • Unauthorized use of ATM card • Wrote checks to himself • Caught by suspicious board members attempting to obtain financial reports
$19,010 STOLEN
Nitcia Alejandro, 35
Grandview Elementary School Booster Club - Dinuba, CA
Charged with / How caught?
No details at this time
$2,800 STOLEN
Terry and Betty Anderson, 39 & 34
Union HS & MS Marching Band - Union, MO
Charged with / How caught?
Pocketed cash from fundraisers • Wrote fraudulent checks • Stole scrip cards • Cashed checks • Caught by suspicious parents after a check bounced
$23,435 STOLEN
Melissa Rae Weltz, 34
Bismarck HS Demonettes Booster Club - Bismarck, ND
Charged with / How caught?
Cashed 3 cashiers checks • Caught by suspicious board member who noticed something wrong
$12,500 STOLEN
Amy Sherrod, 39
Carter HS Band Boosters - Knoxville, TN
Charged with / How caught?
Fraudulent checks • Recorded false entries in records
$33,000 STOLEN
Christian Houston, 56
Duluth HS Touchdown Club Football Boosters - Duluth, GA
Charged with / How caught?
Forged checks • Caught by parent concerns & audit
$18,700 STOLEN
Jared Scott Snyder, 44
Valencia HS Baseball Boosters - Valencia, CA
Charged with / How caught?
False reimbursement reports • Fake bank account • Caught by parent concerns & audit
$10,000 STOLEN
YOU SUPPORT THEM, WE SUPPORT YOU
With PBUSA membership, we file all the IRS and state paperwork. We keep your booster club up and running year after year.