CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will share the money it receives from a legal settlement between the Big Ten and Pennsylvania State University with local child abuse prevention programs.
The U. of I.’s share of the settlement, reached following the conviction of former assistant PSU football coach Jerry Sandusky for sexually abusing children, is $188,000.
The U. of I. selected the United Way of Champaign County to assist with the distribution of these funds. The United Way will, in turn, distribute it to four organizations, each of which will receive $44,586: the Child Advocacy Center of Champaign County, the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, Crisis Nursery, and the Rape Advocacy Counseling and Education program.
United Way is recommending that $10,000 of the funding be set aside for the four entities to work together with United Way to provide a program for the community focusing on education and awareness.
Under the arrangement, the United Way has agreed to waive any grant-management fees and to monitor how the agencies use the money. The United Way then is to report those results to the university.
“All of these organizations serve a critical need in our community – protecting children – and the money will be used to enhance or expand their services,” said Chancellor Phyllis M. Wise. “The settlement is the result of a tragedy, but the hope is these gifts will serve a positive purpose and change people’s lives.”
