The printed receipts that gave an aura of authenticity to the pitch for the kids at Children's Hospital also left a paper trail that led police to more than two dozen victims of a scam.

Donnelle Billings, 33, is accused of collecting money from small businesses, which she claimed was for parties for the young patients at Children's Hospital. She issued dated receipts with "Children's Hospital" printed on them, then pocketed the money, according to police. She faces trial after a hearing in City Court yesterday morning.

Billings was arrested Jan. 29 in William Penn Jewelers & Engravers in Squirrel Hill. She approached an employee and said she was collecting money for Children's Hospital, but before she could finish her pitch, police came in and made the arrest, according to the employee, who declined to give her name.

Billings was carrying receipts with "Children's Hospital" printed on them when she was arrested, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

She was charged with 32 counts of theft by deception and four counts of misrepresentation of sponsorship in solicitation of funds for charitable purposes.

The businesses that were victims were mostly in the East End of Pittsburgh, with a few outside the city.

In some cases she simply solicited money, but in many cases she said an advertisement would be placed in exchange for the donation.

Billings "intentionally [created] the false impression that she was acting as an agent for Children's Hospital. ... She reinforced this impression by promising print advertisements to these victims in exchange for cash," according to the affidavit.

"She's been working this for quite some time," said Wendi Miller of Miller Frame in East Liberty. "I have receipts from 2002 from her. What she does is she comes around, generally at Christmas or Easter. Her scam is that she's collecting for Children's Hospital, that they do parties for the kids at Children's. People donate to that quite readily." Miller said she was never promised an ad in exchange for her donation.

Billings' records, including receipt books she was carrying when she was arrested, led to a trail of victims from Aspinwall to Shadyside, Lawrenceville, Squirrel Hill, Bloomfield and East Liberty. Police were able to find and interview more than 20 small business owners and employees who had donated money.

Most of the incidents took place last year, many in December. Billings usually solicited amounts from $25 to $50 or $60.

More than a dozen people who said they were bilked by her showed up at the hearing yesterday. Billings, who was free on bond, waived her right to a hearing and now faces trial.