Second Mile seeks court approval to shut down; Officials say charity is ‘financially crippled’ by Sandusky scandal

The charity started by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky more than three decades ago is seeking court approval to shut down.

The Second Mile Foundation is asking a judge to allow it to transfer programs and millions of dollars in assets to a Texas-based youth ministry that serves abused and neglected children.

The Second Mile says it has been financially crippled by the child-sex abuse scandal involving its founder and onetime public face and has no other option but to close.

–Click here to read The Second Mile’s May 25, 2012 statement

Prosecutors say Sandusky found his victims through The Second Mile. He has pleaded not guilty to more than 50 counts of sexual abuse involving 10 alleged victims. He awaits a June trial.

Last week 6 News reported the Second Mile’s board of directors was in the final stages of approving a proposal to sell off or shift many of the foundation’s assets. On Friday morning, leaders with the organization filed court documents as the first step in what could eventually be the organization closing permanently.

–PREVIOUS STORY: The Second Mile considering option to release programs

The Second Mile’s history — and its future in the stack of documents filed in Centre County’s Orphans Court — includes a proposal that the organization transfer programs and assets to Arrow Child and Family Ministries.

After Sandusky was arrested in November 2011, the Second Mile’s donations dropped to practically zero. The court documents indicate the Second Mile will transfer $2 million to Arrow to run programs for one year. In addition, the documents indicate Second Mile’s assets are just more than $6 million, but the organization remains the subject of several investigations as a result of the Sandusky scandal.

The Second Mile will retain some of its assets at least early on and then plans depend on court rulings to eventually sell off all assets and close its offices.

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