The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of more than $14,000 from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester’s Tournament of Care golf tournament, which took place July 11 at Irondequoit Country Club in Pittsford.
According to Lt. Paul DeLella of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the money had been placed in a bank-deposit bag during the event, and that bag later went missing. An Aug. 2 statement from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester said the missing deposit bag contained cash, checks and credit-card receipts from the sale of items at the tournament. These funds represented only a portion of tournament proceeds.
"We’re still investigating the matter," DeLella said Aug. 3. "Obviously there were many people there, and we are in the process of interviewing people."
The congregation said it has notified tournament guests who may be at risk due to the theft and is working with authorities to track down the missing funds.
"The Sisters ask for prayers for those involved in this event and for those helping in the investigation," the statement said.
The tournament, which this year drew 132 golfers, is the congregation’s largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds from this year’s tournament were earmarked for the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministry Fund, which supports the sisters’ work in education, health, pastoral care and social services.
Anyone with information about the missing tournament money is asked to call 911 or make an anonymous report to Rochester Area Crime Stoppers at 585-423-9300 or www.roccrimestoppers.com.
