GROWISE\Proceeds\Stolen

Varnado, president of Giving and Reaching Out to Women -- International Student Education, came to work after a benefit dinner the the UNC organization held in the Great Hall.

But as much as $250 of the event's total proceeds of $300 to $350 were stolen.

The money was going to provide scholarships for indigenous elementary and high school girls in Africa.

Varnado said that after the dinner she went to work at W. B. Yeats, an Irish pub on Franklin Street, and told several people her story.

They passed around a beer pitcher and raised $71 for the organization.

She also told her parents the situation, and her dad wrote a check to GROWISE for the amount of the stolen money.

Despite the generosity of those who have tried to help the situation, investigators are still trying to locate the thieves who made the good deeds necessary.

Varnado said the proceeds from the dinner were put in an envelope after collection at the door. She put the envelope in her purse and put the purse under a coat behind the food table with the other participants' belongings.

Varnado said she discovered the money was stolen while cleaning up after the dinner.

"It's disheartening and frustrating to know that the money was going to go to educate girls. ... And now it's going to go to pizza and beer or something trivial," Varnado said.

Sophomore member of GROWISE Courtney Sproule said Varnado's purse was stolen along with a wallet belonging to senior member Laura Greeson.

Varnado said about 60 people came to the benefit dinner and that most attendants were a friend or acquaintance of at least one GROWISE member. The organization hosted the band Groundscore and two swing dance instructors. Food and prizes were donated by local restaurants.

She also said a large tour group of adults visited the Great Hall during the event but did not imply that any of them were responsible for the theft.

Varnado said she thought there was at least one member of GROWISE standing near the food table at all times but that she suspects the money was stolen between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. when all the members were swing dancing. At that time she said there were only about 30 people in the room.

When Varnado discovered her purse was stolen, she said she canceled her credit cards and called University police.

UNC police Captain of Investigations Mark McIntyre said an investigation will be conducted on this case.

According to police reports filed Thursday, there are no suspects in the case.

"There's no guarantee that they will get the money back, and there's no guarantee that they won't get the money back," McIntyre said.

Junior Marcela Vesela, GROWISE treasurer, said the incident would not discourage the group from initiating and participating in future charitable events.

And although the proceeds were stolen, she said she thought the benefit was successful, raising awareness about their cause.

But Varnado said the larceny still left her disappointed in the evening's outcome. "It's just really disheartening to know someone would steal from a charity organization."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.