A former StarVista employee accused of embezzling $700,000 pleaded not guilty to charges that could result in more than 10 years in prison during a Thursday, Dec. 15 hearing, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Clarise Ann Blanchard,76, of Foster City, is a former clinical director for the non-profit organization who was previously named Woman of the Year in 2008. After Blanchard’s retirement in 2022, StarVista received information of a charitable contribution of $50,000, the money of which appeared in the organization’s bank account. The organization conducted an audit showing that Blanchard allegedly set up a false bank account for herself at Chase Bank and diverted donations for StarVista into the account. Blanchard is also accused of writing thank you letters to the contributors from the StarVista director, forging the signature of the chief officer’s name, according to the DA’s Office.
She remains out of custody on a $700,000 bail bond and will appear in court on Feb. 28 for a superior court review conference and to set a preliminary hearing date, according to the DA’s Office.
StarVista is a non-profit organization offering counseling, skill development, and crisis prevention for children, youth, adults, and families, according to its website. Blanchard's alleged actions were not consistent with her job duties and were outside the scope of her employment with the organization, according to a StarVista press release.
“The most important thing we can stress is that no service partner assets have been misappropriated,” said Candace Reese Walters, StarVista spokesperson.
