AKRON, Ohio — An Akron woman is warning to parents to do their homework before donating to organizations claiming to be affiliated with parent teacher associations after she says she was misled into raising money for the PTA at her son’s school.
PTAs is a national membership organization made up of parents, teachers, and school administrators. The organizations are designed to increase parental involvement, enhance communication, and many schools work with the PTA for fundraising extracurricular activities and social activities.
Kara DiBella has raised hundreds of dollars for Sam Salem Community Learning Center’s PTA by asking Akron area businesses to donate to their organization. DiBella has a son in kindergarten at the elementary school. Most recently, a PTA organizer with the school gave DiBella and other parent volunteers a letter with what appears to have official letterhead to request donations for Teacher Appreciation Week.
“We currently have approximately 60 staff members we would like to serve,” the letter obtained by 3News reads. “We would also like to raffle off some gifts for the teachers.”
DiBella said businesses such as local grocery store chain Acme, Mod Carwash, Just A Dad, and more donated to Sam Salem’s PTA and in return, businesses were supposed to be given a tax identification number they could use as a contribution during tax season. The businesses, however, never received a tax ID because the school’s PTA doesn’t exist.
3News checked the national website and there are 19 registered PTAs in Akron. Sam Salem CLC is not on the list.
“I feel like a fool,” said DiBella. “I went around falsely giving this [letter] out and business owners thought I was a liar.”
DiBella said the organization has hosted meetings at libraries, hosted community events, and sent newsletters using “Sam Salem PTA” advertising. She said it wasn’t until businesses voice their concerns about not receiving a tax ID that she became suspicious.
“I never thought you couldn’t not trust a school,” she stated. “I really thought we were a PTA. I was fooled.”
DiBella is now calling on school leaders to right what she calls a wrong.
“I want an apology for all these businesses,” she added. “I want an apology to myself and the other members that donated our time.”
A spokesperson with Akron Public Schools tells 3News the district just learned of this information on May 9 and are looking into this matter.
One of the best ways to check the legitimacy of a PTA is through the national website. There’s a search bar that allows users to check PTA organizations by city and state.