Credit union replaces kids football team's stolen money

By the Herald staff

A Tri-City credit union has donated $250 so a kids football team can receive awards after the team's money was allegedly stolen by a Kennewick woman.

HAPO Community Credit Union gave the money to the Kennewick Huskies Grid Kids football team so each player can get a Huskies T-shirt at their end-of-the season party.

Team coach Mitch Ratchford called Kennewick police earlier this month when $3,000 was missing from the team's account, police said.

Detectives questioned Team Mom and bookkeeper Charity A. Smith, 35, of Kennewick, and she has been charged with second-degree theft, a felony.

The money was collected to pay for expenses throughout the year, including game and practice jerseys, T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts for players and their families.

Also, each family contributed money for a party, including food and drinks, decorations, gifts for the coaching staff and awards for the nearly 90 players, at the end of the season, police said.

But with just $350 left for the party, Ratchford and team family members were looking for donations.

"It was great the way people just stepped up and said the company they work for would donate the drinks or that their parents' business would donate the plates and tablecloths," Ratchford said.

And on Friday, HAPO officials said they would donate $250 for the T-shirts so that Ratchford wouldn't have to cover the cost himself.

"It's businesses such as HAPO that support our community," he said. "The entire Huskies program really appreciates this contribution in such difficult times."

tool name

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Credit union replaces kids football team's stolen money

By the Herald staff