Impact

Big Ten schools to again use bowl revenues to support children

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the second consecutive year, Big Ten Conference officials have approved the equal distribution of what would have been Penn State’s share of football bowl game revenues to 2013-14 Big Ten member universities. The 12 schools, including Penn State, must distribute the funds to child-focused organizations in their local communities as they deem appropriate.Big Ten officials will provide each university with $229,367, an amount that reflects one-twelfth of the $2.75 million that Penn State would have earned during the 2014 bowl season had the Nittany Lions been permitted to participate in post-season competition. Penn State was banned from participation in 2014 postseason play by both the Big Ten and the NCAA as a result of the investigation of child sexual abuse by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.Last year, Penn State worked with the Centre County United Way (CCUW) to determine where these funds were most needed. The donation was then equally distributed between the Stewards of Children education and prevention program and the Children’s Advocacy Center, a victim services agency. Both programs will split Penn State’s portion of funds again this year to further promote their missions.“The Stewards of Children program is an important resource in the fight against child sexual abuse,” Tammy Gentzel, CCUW executive director, said. “Under the leadership of the YMCA of Centre County, Centre County Women’s Resource Center and Centre County Youth Service Bureau, thousands of adults have been provided with the information they need to keep our children safe. This significant funding will ensure that Stewards of Children training continues in Centre County.”The Children’s Advocacy Center of Centre County, under the umbrella of Mount Nittany Health and located in Bellefonte, Pa., provides a centralized location for child abuse victims to receive necessary services including medical care. While the current investigatory process requires a child to participate in multiple interviews with different people at different locations, the Children’s Advocacy Center provides a safe space for multiple service representatives to collaborate in a single location.“As a growing organization, this generous donation will aid our mission of providing a compassionate approach to the prevention, identification, intervention and treatment of child abuse or neglect, and help us offer more services to victims and their families,” Kristina Taylor-Porter, Children’s Advocacy Center executive director, said. “Meeting the needs of children and their families is our primary concern. Penn State’s contribution will go far in our region’s fight against child abuse.”In 2013, the 12 Big Ten schools divided $2.3 million of bowl revenues among a host of organizations serving and protecting children.

Last Updated May 24, 2019

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