The Diversity Institute of Bermuda is consulting with a major public accounting firm to firm up internal controls in an effort to guard against theft after around $20,000 was stolen from the charity last year.

Institute chairwoman Cris Valdes Dapena also said the iInstitute had been bailed out by an anonymous donor who gave a substantial amount of money to the charity after the theft took place.

It was revealed last week that the Diversity Institute had informed authorities after it became aware of a ?misappropriation of funds? by an employee, which ended last summer.

Yesterday, Ms Valdes Dapena confirmed that $20,000 had been taken by the officer through unauthorised use of the charity?s credit card.

She added that the person left the Island shortly after the activities ended and said the matter had been referred to the Police in the last few months.

Meanwhile, she said a major public accounting firm was assisting the organisation ?to develop internal controls which will enable us to avoid exposure to the risk of such an event ever occurring again.?

Ms Valdes Dapena added that ?an anonymous donor? had donated ?funds expressly for the purpose of relieving any deficit to our accounts and covering costs associated with our efforts to recover the misappropriated funds?.

She added: ?The Diversity Institute is continuing to carry out its primary mission, of promoting the understanding, acceptance and celebration of diversity in our community and wishes to thank our members, clients, donors and other stakeholders for their continuing support.?

The charity, which operates out of the Bermuda College in Paget, was founded in 1998 by the NTL Institute of Applied Behavioural Sciences, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Bermuda College.