Trent Dang Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 (edited) Didn't know what would be the most appropriate forum for this so mods, please tell me if I need to move it. At any rate, I work in a small town outside of New Orleans. The local HS band has been doing fund raising for a trip to Disney. THESE FUNDS WERE THEN "ALLEGEDLY" EMBEZZLED BY A BAND BOOSTER!!!!!!!!!!! I need not tell you all here how heart breaking this is. The community is helping them find the funds to keep going and understanding how much HS band meant to all of us I thought I would post this here. And FWIW, this HS is less than 10 miles away from Ground Zero of Hurricane Katrina. Article about the embezzlement: http://www.seacoaste...ml#.UgpdOGSFSjE The treasurer of the Bay High School Band Booster Club was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing about $12,000 in funds raised by band members over the past year, Bay St. Louis Police Chief Mike De Nardo said Wednesday. According to De Nardo, Kimberly Luxich, 41, was charged with embezzlement. Luxich, who was the treasurer of the booster club for the past year, was responsible for safe-guarding money collected by the booster club. De Nardo said BPD received a call Monday from the booster club president about the possible embezzlement and detectives executed a search warrant Tuesday at Luxich's home. he band members had raised the money over the past year by selling candy, doing car washes, boot shakes, and various other fund raisers, De Nardo said. The money was to be used for an upcoming trip to Disney World. "This is horrible," BPD Detective Don Gray said Wednesday. "These kids worked all summer long to raise this money and now they may not be able to go on their trip." De Nardo said a CPA has been looking through the booster club's books to see if any additional funds are missing. He said if anyone wants to assist the band with its trip, call Cynthia Rose, the president of the booster club. Luxich was given an initial court appearance Wednesday in front of municipal Judge George Lipscomb and later transported to the Hancock County Jail. Fundraising article: Hancock Chamber Small business owners are joining forces to help the Bay High Band raise funds to replace the $12,000 lost to an alleged embezzlement. Under the leadership of Mike Bell, more than $5,000 has already been raised. Bell says the community needs to come together quickly to make sure that these students don't miss out on the opportunity to travel to Orlando to participate in a Disney Band Competition. Local Fire Departments are planning a Sunday Boot Shake to help in the effort. Please make checks payable to the Bay High Band Booster Club. Donations need to be in by Friday. Call Mike Bell at 228-216-6040 or email him at bell.electric@yahoo.com to pick up your donation. Or drop your donation at the Hancock Chamber Office, 111 Court Street, Bay St. Louis. Edited August 13, 2013 by Trent Dang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Thunder Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Unfortunately there have been some corps that have had this happen to them also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rufus67 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 As a drum corps fan, and current band booster president myself (one of only two board members with signatory authority on booster accounts), this story scares the living crud out of me. Sincerely hope they are able to recoup/raise the funds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skajerk Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 (edited) I remember this same exact thing happening just a couple years ago to a band planning a trip to Hawaii, I believe it was. Not to distract from the thread, but what is a "Sunday Boot Shake"? Edited August 13, 2013 by skajerk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavie95 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 They should put that lady in a shark tank and end it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelloHorn13 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Experienced something identical this winter. If you ever see anything associated with L.E.A.P., keep your kids away. Was stuck figuring how to get a group to WGI. We made it and the kids still talk about the event. Help them people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerguy315 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 something similar happened in the county that I teach... I used to be employed by the high school band boosters, but after some band booster money went missing at another school, now it has become a lot more complicated. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but the bands still raise money and then the accounts are managed by the county? or something? now instead of being paid by the band boosters I am paid by the county. (I only teach marching band, not a fulltime teacher) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent Dang Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I remember this same exact thing happening just a couple years ago to a band planning a trip to Hawaii, I believe it was. Not to distract from the thread, but what is a "Sunday Boot Shake"? Where the fireman stand at intersections to collect money for various causes. You put whatever you want to give in the boot they're holding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skajerk Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 OH! OK. Thank you, Trent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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