The Second Mile

The Second Mile
Founder(s) Jerry Sandusky
Type Youth organization charity
Founded 1977
Location Pennsylvania
Website thesecondmile.org

The Second Mile is a nonprofit organization for underprivileged youth, providing help for at-risk children and support for their parents in Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1977 by Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant college football coach.[1][2][3] The charity said its youth programs serve as many as 100,000 children annually.[4] The organization was engulfed in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal after Sandusky was arrested on 40 charges of child sexual abuse in November 2011. Soon thereafter, The Second Mile was reported to be ceasing operation with some activities perhaps being transferred to other organizations.

Contents

Early work and praise

U.S. President George H. W. Bush praised the group as a "shining example" of charity work in a 1990 letter,[5] one of that president's much-promoted "Thousand points of light" encouragements to volunteer community organizations.[6] Citing Sandusky's work with The Second Mile charity to provide care for foster children, then U.S. Senator Rick Santorum honored Sandusky with a Angels in Adoption award in 2002.[7] Ex-Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil, current Eagles head coach Andy Reid, R.R.M. Carpenter, III, former Eagles owner, Matt Millen from ESPN, actor Mark Wahlberg, golfer Arnold Palmer, and football players Ham and Franco Harris, among others, served on the Honorary Board of Second Mile[8] though questions were raised about how closely if at all the listed members were involved. Cal Ripken Jr. among others was reported to have been only marginally involved or not at all involved and Ripken asked for his name to be removed; and the list was removed from the organization's website.[9]

Revenue and major donors

The Second Mile has three offices in Pennsylvania, with headquarters in State College, where Penn State is based. The charity's revenue, primarily from donations and fundraisers such as golf tournaments, was $3 million in 2009.[10] Major companies and foundations that have given to The Second Mile include Bank of America, the Hershey Company, State Farm, U.S. Steel Corp., the University of Pittsburgh, PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, local Walmarts and newspapers. Penn State itself donated money to The Second Mile even after high-ranking university officials were told that Sandusky had been seen sexually assaulting a boy on campus. The charity paid its CEO $133,000 a year, and his wife received about $100,000 a year.[11]

Impact of Penn State sex abuse scandal

Main article: Penn State sex abuse scandal

Founder Sandusky was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse in November 2011.[12] Sandusky met all of the alleged victims through The Second Mile.[13] Angels in Adoption rescinded its earlier 2002 award to Sandusky for his work with The Second Mile "in light of the serious allegations against him, and to preserve the integrity of the Angels in Adoption program."[14]

Jack Raykovitz, the longtime president and CEO of The Second Mile, announced his resignation on November 14.[15] Under new management, the charity told The New York Times on November 18, 2011 that it was preparing to fold, with plans to transfer some programs to other charities.[16] An attorney for one of Sandusky's alleged victims filed suit to prevent the transfer of assets,[17] and the charity soon thereafter made an announcement asking potential donors to instead give to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape; programs were expected to continue at least through the end of the year.[18]

References

  1. ^ Corcino, Jeff (May 29, 2008). "CASD students complete educational, fitness program". The Progress. http://www.theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=12640. Retrieved November 14, 2011. "Second Mile is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1977 by Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator for the Penn State football team." 
  2. ^ Rudel, Neil (January 7, 2001). "Sandusky loyal to 'Second Mile' cause". Beaver County Times: p. B10. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hQNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B0ENAAAAIBAJ&pg=5724,987559&dq=second-mile+sandusky&hl=en. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
  3. ^ Lentz, Charlie (March 27, 2007). "Sandusky Second to None". pennstate.scout.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110716021727/http://pennstate.scout.com/2/630302.html. "He founded The Second Mile in 1977 to provide a helping hand and human contact for at-risk children and education and support for their parents." 
  4. ^ "President of The Second Mile resigns". ESPN.com. November 14, 2011. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7233159/penn-state-nittany-lions-scandal-president-second-mile-resigns. Retrieved November 14, 2011. "The Second Mile has said that its youth programs serve as many as 100,000 children a year." 
  5. ^ Sandusky Had Access to Vulnerable Kids Via Charity (Associated Press, Nov. 12, 2011)
  6. ^ Ganim, Sara, "Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State football staffer, subject of grand jury investigation", Patriot-News, March 31, 2011 8:00/8:20 am. Via Shinal, John, "Joe Paterno botched the biggest play of his life", MarketWatch, Nov. 12, 2011, 2:54 pm EST; JShinal comment, comment p. 5 reply to Insightfool c. 2 pm 11/13. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  7. ^ Santorum honored accused PSU Coach as "angel" (Philadelphia Inquirer, November 9, 2011)
  8. ^ Shorr-Parks, Eliot, "Andy Reid, Dick Vermeil on Honorary Board for Sandusky Organization", Yard Barker blog; "with FoxSports.com on MSN" upper right in page logo; 11/10/2011. List reproduced at site not dated. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  9. ^ Ferran, Lee, and Emily Stanitz, "Celebrities Unaware of Sandusky Charity Board Membership", ABC News The Blotter blog, Nov. 17, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  10. ^ Second Mile workers being laid off
  11. ^ Penn State assistant coach: 'I did the right thing' (MSNBC, 11/14/11)
  12. ^ "Penn State ex-coach charged with abuse, AD with perjury". USA Today. Associated Press. November 5, 2011. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2011-11-05/penn-state-abuse-case/51083628/1. Retrieved November 5, 2011. 
  13. ^ Viera, Mark and Jo Becker (November 14, 2011). "Ex-Coach Denies Charges Amid New Accusations". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/sports/ncaafootball/jack-raykovitz-chief-of-second-mile-resigns-amid-penn-state-scandal.html. Retrieved November 18, 2011. 
  14. ^ "A statement from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (11/10/2011)" (Press release). Angels in Adoption. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. http://webcitation.org/63DYKx9ke. 
  15. ^ "President Of Charity Linked To Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal Resigns". Fox News. 2010-04-07. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/14/president-charity-linked-to-penn-state-sex-abuse-scandal-resigns/. Retrieved 2011-11-16. 
  16. ^ Charity Founded by Sandusky Plans to Fold (New York Times, November 18, 2011)
  17. ^ Milton, Pat (23 November 2011). "Alleged victim files suit against The Second Mile charity". CBSNews.com. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-57330792-10391695/alleged-victim-files-suit-against-the-second-mile-charity/?tag=contentMain;contentBody. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
  18. ^ Associated Press (28 November 2011). "Sandusky's Second Mile charity: Donate elsewhere". CBSNews.com. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57332367/sanduskys-second-mile-charity-donate-elsewhere/. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 

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