'It's not just a small crime': Milwaukee organization loses grant applications in mail theft

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A victim of mail theft in Milwaukee is sharing her story after a nonprofit organization was targeted.

"I was surprised that people have gotten to this point, where they're stealing mail," said Linda Wade, president of Above the Clouds.

Wade was shocked when she got a call from her bank this summer saying her organization was a victim of fraud.

'We were part of a theft, a mail theft, and they'd gotten our teachers checks and washed them," Wade said.

Above the Clouds is an organization that provides performing arts classes to Milwaukee children.

Thankfully, the washed checks could be replaced, but according to Wade, $25,000 to $50,000 worth of grant applications were lost; she believes they were discarded by thieves.

"When they were looking for the checks, then they see that, and that's not important to them so they just toss them," Wade explained.

Donors that typically provide money to Above the Clouds never received applications for 2023.

"They're wondering, what, you don't need the money? Yes, we do need the money," Wade said.

Wade said the theft happened last spring. During end-of-year bookkeeping, their board members noticed the missing grant money.

With the window closed for 2023, Above the Clouds will send out more grant applications in January.

"That grant money goes to programming, so it goes to class supplies, paying the teachers," Wade said. "It's affecting the organization, it's affecting families, children that want to come to take their class that might not have as many classes to choose from next semester."

Wade wants to share her story to spread awareness that mail theft can be a domino effect.

"If you know that this is happening, please report it, because it's not just a small crime," Wade said.

Click here to donate and learn more about Above the Clouds.