Call it miscommunication.
What one VCU organization considered an opportunity to raise funds for a spring fashion show had a surprise ending.
When GroupMODA scheduled a four-hour fundraiser at the Cold Stone Creamery on Broad Street, it planned to clear up some debts.
“We have financial issues with the university because of time constraints and some other things from last year,” said Jameson Deloatch, GroupMODA’s president.
This was the group’s first fundraiser this fall so the members were hoping to raise at least $110 to clear debts and have some money for its spring 2006 show. Thus the group learned about the Cold Stone Creamery’s fundraising policy from other organizations that previously had used the business to help them raise funds.
“I believed that this would be a great way to promote the group because the store was located in Central VCU,” Deloatch said. “I also figured we would raise money with the assistance of our fellow schoolmates.”
Fred Palau, a third-year dentistry student supported the group’s effort.
“I’ve been bad at supporting organizations since I’ve been in dental school, but I wanted to help today,” Palau said. “I come (to Cold Stone) every other week but the students really inspired me today.”
Deloatch said the group understood it would receive 15 percent of the earnings raised during the hours its members were present, but it didn’t know the main requirement involved handing out fliers to the customers as they entered the creamery.
“To my knowledge, because I wasn’t informed otherwise, everyone who walked through the door from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday we would receive a portion of the sales,” Deloatch said. “So it was our job to get the date out and to bring the customers in.”
Within three hours of the fundraiser, GroupMODA treasurer and backstage coordinator Taryn Laster decided to check on the group’s earnings.
“We had sold a total of $87 worth of ice cream, which put our 15 percent at $13 of earned profit,” Laster said. “I was shocked and very disappointed with the number we were told.”
Some employees in the creamery told GroupMODA that their boss wanted the customers to hand the fliers to the cashier or state that the purchase was on behalf of GroupMODA.
Later they told the group’s officers that this wasn’t the first time a miscommunication occurred.
The next day, Laster decided that she would explain the situation to the manager to clear things up.
“I went to Cold Stone and spoke with the manager about the fundraiser policies and procedures,” Laster said. “After speaking with him, I learned that it was a miscommunication.”
Andre Foxx, a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity that supported the group had no problems with the creamery the night his organization had its fundraiser.
“We held the same fundraiser, but we got 20 percent because we made about $600 in just the four hours we were there, so we got about $155,” Foxx said.
GroupMODA earned about $34 from Cold Stone, but it also collected $70 in donations from people who walked by and wanted to help.
Despite the group’s disappointment, Deloatch says this will not freeze the students’ plans in having its spring 2006 show titled “Controversy” where the objective is to show fashion in a non-stereotypical manner.
“I just can’t give it up because of that,” Deloatch said. “We can do it and it will be done.”
A week later, the manager of the creamery by phone refused to discuss the matter.