TRAVERSE CITY -- An investigation into missing funds from the second annual CherryT Ball Drop is now in the hands of the prosecutor.
More than 10,000 people took part in the New Year's event in downtown Traverse City. The community party was also a fundraiser, with money and canned goods donated to Goodwill.
After normal checks and balances of the financial statements from the event some discrepancies were found. At that point an investigation was launched and the records were turned over to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor's Office.
"Fortunately it did not affect the monetary donations or canned food donations that was really the main focus of the event," says Becky Darga, a CherryT Ball Drop committee member, "it only affected the cost of bringing the event to the spectators."
"We put trust in an individual that backfired," says committee member Dean Rose, "it won't happen again."
Letters were sent to vendors that are in need of payment explaining the circumstances and committee members say all outstanding debts will be taken care of in 120 days.
The CherryT Ball drop committee was recently reformed and a new checks and balance system is now in place.
"We hope that the community knows that this will not affect the event at all," explains committee member Christal Wilcox, "I'm sure when this is all over, we will have the support of the community once again and the event of New Years 2012 will be perfect."
For more information on the event CLICK HERE.
