Jerry Sandusky's children's charity will transfer its programs--and $2 million to pay for them--to an organization that places at-risk children in Christian foster care homes.

The Second Mile began to struggle last fall, when Sandusky was accused of molesting 10 boys he met through the charity's programs while assistant coach of Penn State University's football team.

"The board learned that there is overwhelming support for the programs, but that there would not be adequate support, including financial, from donors, volunteers, and referring social service agencies to continue the Second Mile as its own entity," the Pennsylvania organization said in a prepared statement.

After considering 15 different entities, Second Mile chose Arrow Child and Family Services to take over its programming, citing Arrow's history of dealing with at-risk children and its presence in Pennsylvania.

Pending court approval, which could take several months, Second Mile would transfer an on-going program endowment and some non-cash assets along with the programming intellectual rights and cash, the statement said.

Arrow began in 1992 as a foster care agency, recruiting families and facilitating placement of foster children in Christian homes. Founded by Mark Tenant, himself a product of the foster system, the Houston-based Arrow has expanded nationwide and encompasses adoption services, family preservation, and in-home services.

Arrow reached out to Second Mile in November, asking if it could offer encouragement or support after the Sandusky story broke.

"I made the connection from a geographical standpoint," said Tenant, who grew up in Pennsylvania. "And so much was being lost in the story. So much was said about Sandusky, but what was not being communicated was what was happening to the kids there. That's why I reached out."

SOURCE: Christianity Today

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra