Local school at risk of losing nearly $24,000 of donated funds

ATLANTA — A local business owner says he will re-pay money he owes to parents who donated $24,000 to a fundraiser.
 
"In previous years, I've actually paid by check because the kids think it is so much fun to get a check for what they earned," parent Marci Steiding said.
 
Steiding is talking about a FundRunners run.
 
Her two boys ran this year to support Springdale Park Elementary.
 
Kids take pledges for each lap.
 
One Tuesday she and hundreds of other parents learned any money donated online is in jeopardy.
 
"I was dumped to hear that was the money that is at risk," Steiding said.
 
In all the school is maybe out $24,000.
 
An email from Springdale Park's PTO said they've accounted for all the cash and check donations.
 
It adds the FundRunners owner went under because he lost a line of credit.
 
Armed with that information, Channel 2's Erica Byfield spent Wednesday looking for him.
 
Byfield stopped by a business, eventually he spoke to us at length on the phone.
 
"This is definitely an unforeseen, unfortunate event. We have raised $15-plus million for schools for the last seven years and we had no intention or desire for this to happen in anyway," Greg Bardin said.
 
Bardin said he used the money Springdale Parks kids raised to support other fun runs.
 
"My concern is what is going to happen to the school we need those funds," Steiding said.
 
Steiding told Byfield she's learned her lesson.
 
"It reminded me it a better choice just to donate to that school. They get a 100 percent of those funds," Steiding said.
 
Bardin told Byfield he expects to re-pay Springdale Park Elementary in the spring.
 
He also told Byfield he's working with a bankruptcy attorney.

WSBTV