Fennville business owner accused of embezzling from graduation fund in Michigan

A Fennville ice cream shop owner has been charged with embezzling from Project Graduation, a fund for seniors at Fennville High School to use in graduation celebrations.

Christine Thompson-VanDerbok was arraigned Thursday in Allegan 57th District Court and charged with a misdemeanor count of embezzling more than $200, but less than $1,000. The charge is punishable by up to one year in jail.
Court records show the money was taken sometime between January and May of this year.
Thompson-VanDerbok, owner of the Tastee Treat ice cream shop on East Main Street, and her attorney, Paul Klein, did not return calls Friday.
Allegan County Sheriff’s Lt. Frank Baker said authorities were made aware of the embezzlement sometime after high school graduation took place this spring.
Baker said VanDerbok was part of the Project Graduation committee and another member alerted police to concerns of missing money. As part of the committee, VanDerbok had access to money that was collected, Baker said.
Project Graduation is traditionally organized by parents who commit to raise money so their graduating students can celebrate after finishing high school, Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer said. It is independent of the school’s budget, he said.
Baker declined comment on how or whether any of the missing money was spent.
“Anytime someone does take from not just the school, but from Project Graduation, which is intended not just for a celebration but for graduation, it’s truly a tragedy,” he said.
Thompson-VanDerbok is free on bond. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3 in Allegan District Court.