Jerry Sandusky Given $500,000 From Youth Charity During Time of Child Rape Allegations
Disgraced football coach paid 'consultant fees'
Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State coach who is accused of raping several young boys who participated in a charity he founded over a 15 year period, also pocketed nearly half a million dollars from the charity's donation coffers.
Between 2001 and 2008, the Second Mile paid Sandusky, who founded the charity in 1977, approximately $500,000 in “consultant” fees, according to federal files acquired by the Wall Street Journal. Many of the child molestation allegations Sandusky is facing occurred during this time.
The child-rape allegations combined with rumors of misused funds are causing some to call for the resignation of John Raykovitz, the Second Mile CEO.
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"There has to be some consequences," said State Sen. Wayne Fontana. "In this case, stepping down is the easy consequence."
Even if Raykovitz does not resign, there appears to be many “consequences” for the charity developing already as a result of the allegations. Several donors, school districts, and celebrity endorsers no longer wish to be associated with the charity, reported the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The decisions to back away from Second Mile are not only a result of Sandusky's alleged actions, but also because several key figures in the charity were aware of rumors and investigations of child-molestation claims, but still maintained ties to the former Penn State coach, including paying him the consultant fees and giving him access to children.
"For an organization with a responsibility for children not to be able to protect them, it's hard to justify an existence," said Pat Sullivan, principal of Grace Preparatory High School in State College, which is currently associated with the charity but told the Inquirer the relationship is “under review.”
Pennsylvania Gov, Tom Corbett started the Sandusky investigation in 2008 as attorney general in the state, and said on Thursday that there needs to be more information on what board members knew about Sandusky's actions.
"I need to know what the charity - what the board members - knew," he said. "I think that's a determination that people should be looking into."
