A former employee of New Jersey Cerebral Palsy is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the clinic. New Jersey Cerebral Palsy is a non-profit organization that provides all kinds of services to sufferers of cerebral palsy and their families.
Shaakerah Kelly was arrested in her home earlier this year. Though she was fired in January 2008 (for unrelated reasons), the theft was not discovered until an audit in June of that same year. According to authorities, Kelly deposited approximately $320,000 in donation checks into her personal bank account over a span of three years. She also spent $3,700 on a company credit card on luxury items for herself. If convicted, Kelly could spend up to 10 years in prison.
How could someone steal from an organization like New Jersey Cerebral Palsy? If Kelly is indeed guilty, it was not just money that was stolen. She also took the goodwill of kind donors who cared enough about the well being of cerebral palsy victims to give from their own paychecks, even in a time of economic downturn. It is not just NJCP that suffers from her theft — it is every family that goes to them to seek help.
Tags: Cerebral Palsy