Uke for Troops Money Stolen

I ran across this post by Uke Jackson over on the Fleamarket Music Bulletin Board and thought I'd republish it here in hope that the money might be recovered, and that the larger uke community might be interested in supporting the cause. What a shame...

"A detective in the Coronado Police Department has asked me to lend my voice, as it were, to the investigation regarding the disappearance of several thousand dollars at the San Diego Ukulele Festival. This money was destined to buy ukuleles for troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The police also asked me to make it clear that Cathy Michalski was the direct victim of this crime. She is not a suspect.

Whoever stole this money is believed to have come to the festival as a ukulele player. If you or anyone you know has information regarding the disappearance of this money, please contact the Coronado Police at 619-522-7347.

Right now, we have requests for far more ukes than we have money. This is not about supporting the war. It is about the gift of ukulele to young folks in harm’s way on a daily basis.

Anita Coyoli-Cullen is in charge of Ukes for Troops. She is currently using www.ukefortroops.com as the web site, while I am in the process of transferring ukesfortroops.org and ukesfortroops.net to her name. She is in the process of receiving 501 3c not-for-profit status. Shirley Orlando does the fulfillment.

Neither of these fine ladies makes a penny for their efforts. If you want to donate, every $20 buys a uke that is sent over there (songbook and postage incl). Every cent raised goes for getting ukes in the hands of the troops who want them. There are no administrative costs taken from the funds raised.

All donations made now are tax deductible through Operation Home Front. Checks should be made payable to Ukes for Troops and sent to the address on www.ukesfortroops.com.

Please, if you know anything at all about the missing money, contact the police at the above number. If you actually know the individual who stole it, get that person to return it anonymously or through an intermediary.

The return of the money would likely end the matter now, and it would let us fulfill our promise to some young people who want to play ukulele."

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