Jerry Sandusky's Second Mile Foundation to Transfer $2M to Christian Ministry
The Second Mile charity, founded by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, will be transferring over funds and programs that help at-risk youth and their families to a Houston-based Christian organization known as Arrow Child and Family Ministries.
"The Second Mile has made a positive difference in many peoples' lives, and we are very pleased that Arrow will continue this good work," said interim CEO David Woodle in a press release from the organization.
"Arrow's mission is consistent with the goals and objectives of The Second Mile's programs. While we are sad that The Second Mile will not continue running programs, we are heartened that the important work of helping children – and their families – reach their full potential will go on," the CEO added.
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The Second Mile, which was founded 35 years ago by Sandusky, has said that although it has continued to receive support for its programs, financial and volunteer support has significantly waned following a series of child sex abuse charges against Sandusky, making it impossible for the organization to continue running as a fully functioning entity.
Sandusky has been accused of taking advantage of and "grooming" at-risk boys who came through the charity for sexual abuse.
The organization plans on transferring $2 million in cash assets to Arrow Child and Family Ministries, which operates in Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland, California, and Honduras. The transfer, which awaits a court approval that could take up to several months, will fund programs in Pennsylvania for a year or two.
Arrow has been operating since 1992 to promote "Christian responsibility and commitment to strengthen family life," according to the organization's website. The organization serves children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, and has served 40,000 children and families since it's founding.
"Our priority is to ensure children continue to be served by these programs," Mark Tennant, founder and CEO of Arrow Child & Family Ministries said in a statement regarding the transfer.
As a child, Tennant had been the victim of physical and sexual abuse and was placed into the foster care system until he found a home with a Christian family in Bedford, Pa.
"We were shocked and saddened by the events that led us here, but we are committed to the future of these children and their families and look forward to building on the outstanding work done by so many individuals who have been a part of The Second Mile over the years," Tennant added.
The Second Mile chose the Christian organization following an exhaustive review of 15 different organizations, but ultimately decided on Arrow due to its background working with children in crisis.
Sandusky, 68, is facing 48 charges of child sex abuse involving 10 children over a 15-year period and could face a prison sentence of over 500 years. The highly publicized trial for Sandusky was wrapped up on Wednesday and jury deliberations began on Thursday.
