Several Iowa agencies that serve young victims of abuse will receive funding as a result of the sex abuse scandal involving former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. One of the sanctions imposed on Penn State in the wake of the Sandusky trial was a ban from participating in bowl games for four years. The revenue that Penn State would have generated in those games is being distributed to Big Ten schools, who are now donating the funds to child advocacy organizations.
The University of Iowa’s share this year is over $188,000. The United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties is handing out the money for the school. United Way president Christine Scheetz says seven Iowa nonprofits will receive about $28,000 each to help identify and treat victims of child abuse. “We’re really looking to make sure that young people are receiving both the protection and then the help they need, as quickly as possible, and then will remain protected,” Scheetz says.
The recipients of the money include Child Advocacy Centers in Sioux City, Des Moines, Hiawatha, Muscatine, and Waterloo, as well as Project Harmony serving Southwest Iowa.