Norristown Children's Activity Group Says Thousands of Dollars Missing
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Norristown nonprofit organization that provides creative ways for children to express themselves through art says summer programs for those kids are in jeopardy after money was swiped from the group's bank account.
Amy Grebe, executive director of the ACPPA Community Art Center, believes their Paypal account was hacked earlier this month and nearly $3,000 was diverted elsewhere.
That money, according to Grebe, had been allocated to pay teachers, purchase supplies, and pay for summer camps and art classes.
But now, she says, all that is on hold.
"It could mean that we have to lay off staff," Grebe tells KYW Newsradio. "A couple of people could lose their summer jobs. It could mean that some of our programming that we anticipated doing for camp doesn't happen."
That includes swimming and trips to art museums.
The money was provided by donors and parents to support the children of the Norristown area, to keep them off the streets during the summer months.
Grebe says a mysterious payment was made from the organization's Paypal account to an e-mail address unknown to them.
Norristown police are now investigating.
