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Sarasota elementary school volunteer stole $7,000 in funds, police say

 
Tiffani Donovan, 48, of Sarasota, was a volunteer with the Southside Elementary PTO when she deposited 11 checks, written to the organization, into her personal account totaling $7,325, police said. [Sarasota Police Department]
Tiffani Donovan, 48, of Sarasota, was a volunteer with the Southside Elementary PTO when she deposited 11 checks, written to the organization, into her personal account totaling $7,325, police said. [Sarasota Police Department]
Published Aug. 3, 2017

A Sarasota woman faces forgery and fraud charges after police say she stole more than $7,000 from an elementary school parent-teacher organization over a five-month period in 2016.

According to police, 48-year-old Tiffani Donovan was a volunteer with the Southside Elementary PTO when she deposited 11 checks, written to the organization, into her personal account totaling $7,325.

Police said they were made aware of the missing money in May, when members of the Southside Elementary PTO came forward to report checks had been stolen from one of the several different organizations within the PTO that solicits and collects funds.

The funds included cash and checks that were sent by parents and either brought by children or dropped off aby parents in an open mail slot in an unsecured area of the school's office, police said.

Through a PTO investigation, police said the organization determined 11 checks were deposited into Donovan's personal account between July and December 2016. Each check was was made payable to the Southside PTO and endorsed by Donovan.

Donovan was arrested Wednesday and transported to the Sarasota County Jail, police said. An investigation continues and Donovan may face more charges.

Anyone with information is asked to call 941-954-7032 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS or on the Crime Stoppers website.