Scandal-Plagued Pa. Charity Has Trouble Off-Loading Programs

The charity founded by former Penn State football coach and sex-abuse suspect Jerry Sandusky is running into difficulty finding partners to run its programs for underprivileged youths, Reuters reports.

Volunteers of America Pennsylvania and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau said Wednesday that they have dropped out of talks to take over work for the Second Mile, which since becoming mired in the Sandusky scandal has frozen its assets and asked donors to give to other charities.

Andrea Boyles, head of the Centre County organization, said any money it received from the Second Mile could be at risk if the latter group faces liability in lawsuits arising from the sex-abuse probe. Mr. Sandusky has been charged with molesting 10 boys he allegedly met through the Second Mile, which he founded in 1977.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries, a Texas charity with a chapter in Pennsylvania, remains in talks with the Second Mile about transferring programs. In a statement, Arrow said that despite the abuse claims, “many children were well served by Second Mile, and we want those programs to continue and flourish.”