Founder of Charity Acquiring Second Mile Identifies With Sandusky’s Victims

Mark Tennant, founder of Arrow Child & Family Ministries, grew up in Central Pennsylvania, where he was physically and sexually abused at home as a child until he was taken away and placed in foster care.

Late last week, his Houston-based charity which is dedicated to finding homes for abused and neglected children, was chosen by The Second Mile to absorb all of its assets and programs.

Tennant only was able to turn his life around after a ‘loving, Christian family’ in Bedford, Pa., relieved him of foster care and made him one of their own.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries helps children find themselves similar loving homes.

The news of Jerry Sandusky’s arrest and charges against him hit close to home.

‘As the founder of an organization dedicated to helping abused and neglected children, I was deeply disturbed by the accusations against Jerry Sandusky and saddened by the impact on The Second Mile and the children who benefitted from their programs,’ Tennant said in a news release.

Arrow Child & Family Ministries said if approved by the Centre County Court of Common Pleas, the charity plans to operate the programs it intercepts from The Second Mile as ‘an institute to promote leadership skills, support for foster families and a camp program aimed at teaching life skills.’

Also reliant on the court’s approval of the transfer is the opening of offices by Arrow Child & Ministry in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and State College, where The Second Mile formerly operated.

The full statement is available on the charity’s website here.

Related coverage: 

• The Second Mile to Transfer All Assets and Programs to Houston-Based Charity (May 25)