NotPSU: Heim's story doesn't hold (shower) water

[rmb297]

Bruce Heim states no one at The Second Mile thought "Jerry was a pedophile." The "red flags" in the charity's financial records tell another story.

By
Ray Blehar

In August 2012, Bruce Heim called the 2001 incident a "nonstarter" because he saw kids showering with Sandusky a over a five year period.

More recently, Heim doubled down on the incident not being a big deal when he repeated to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that the 2001 incident was no big deal because "at the YMCA men shower with kids every day."





Heim also claimed that Penn State's AD TIm Curley told his charity that nothing inappropriate happened.

Of course, if that were true, then why did Curley bother to meet with the charity to inform them that Sandusky was banned from using the facilities with Second Mile kids?

Heim's story doesn't hold (shower) water.

http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2015/10/heim-wrong-2001-incident-was-big-deal.html

 

[Marshall30]

Bruce Heim states no one at The Second Mile thought "Jerry was a pedophile." The "red flags" in the charity's financial records tell another story.

By
Ray Blehar

In August 2012, Bruce Heim called the 2001 incident a "nonstarter" because he saw kids showering with Sandusky a over a five year period.

More recently, Heim doubled down on the incident not being a big deal when he repeated to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that the 2001 incident was no big deal because "at the YMCA men shower with kids every day."





Heim also claimed that Penn State's AD TIm Curley told his charity that nothing inappropriate happened.

Of course, if that were true, then why did Curley bother to meet with the charity to inform them that Sandusky was banned from using the facilities with Second Mile kids?

Heim's story doesn't hold (shower) water.

http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2015/10/heim-wrong-2001-incident-was-big-deal.html

Heim is in all the BS up to his eyeballs.

 

[towny87]

Ray you have said many times in the past that the 2001 incident was just a side show and didn't matter - I even used the same argument with you then why the flurry of activity to call curley, schultz, harmon, courtney and others form TSM

Now you are saying the same thing............... What has changed your mind?

 

[rmb297]

Ray you have said many times in the past that the 2001 incident was just a side show and didn't matter - I even used the same argument with you then why the flurry of activity to call curley, schultz, harmon, courtney and others form TSM

Now you are saying the same thing............... What has changed your mind?

My mind has not changed with respect to the 2001 Penn State incident being sensationalized - or a sideshow - to deflect attention away from the failures of The Second Mile in 2001 & child protective services in 1998.

TSM understood that an abuse finding against Sandusky in 2001 would have ended the charity's existence. That's why Bruce stopped it from happening. Without Sandusky people would have stopped donating.

In 2009, TSM stayed quiet about the abuse finding so that Sandusky could keep raising money. Same reason as in 2001.

Had PSU reported Sandusky in 2001, it wouldn't have impacted PSU at all. The whole idea of a PSU cover-up to save football is nonsense.

In short, the 2001 incident meant a lot more to TSM than it did to PSU.

 

[psuro]

My mind has not changed with respect to the 2001 Penn State incident being sensationalized - or a sideshow - to deflect attention away from the failures of The Second Mile in 2001 & child protective services in 1998.

TSM understood that an abuse finding against Sandusky in 2001 would have ended the charity's existence. That's why Bruce stopped it from happening. Without Sandusky people would have stopped donating.

In 2009, TSM stayed quiet about the abuse finding so that Sandusky could keep raising money. Same reason as in 2001.

Had PSU reported Sandusky in 2001, it wouldn't have impacted PSU at all. The whole idea of a PSU cover-up to save football is nonsense.

In short, the 2001 incident meant a lot more to TSM than it did to PSU.

Yes, and anyone with half a brain would realize these things.

 

[rmb297]

Ray you have said many times in the past that the 2001 incident was just a side show and didn't matter - I even used the same argument with you then why the flurry of activity to call curley, schultz, harmon, courtney and others form TSM

Now you are saying the same thing............... What has changed your mind?

As I post more about the Cars for Kids program, it will become clear what TSM was protecting.

 

[ropa6203]

My mind has not changed with respect to the 2001 Penn State incident being sensationalized - or a sideshow - to deflect attention away from the failures of The Second Mile in 2001 & child protective services in 1998.

TSM understood that an abuse finding against Sandusky in 2001 would have ended the charity's existence. That's why Bruce stopped it from happening. Without Sandusky people would have stopped donating.

In 2009, TSM stayed quiet about the abuse finding so that Sandusky could keep raising money. Same reason as in 2001.

Had PSU reported Sandusky in 2001, it wouldn't have impacted PSU at all. The whole idea of a PSU cover-up to save football is nonsense.

In short, the 2001 incident meant a lot more to TSM than it did to PSU.

My mind has not changed with respect to the 2001 Penn State incident being sensationalized - or a sideshow - to deflect attention away from the failures of The Second Mile in 2001 & child protective services in 1998.

TSM understood that an abuse finding against Sandusky in 2001 would have ended the charity's existence. That's why Bruce stopped it from happening. Without Sandusky people would have stopped donating.

In 2009, TSM stayed quiet about the abuse finding so that Sandusky could keep raising money. Same reason as in 2001.

Had PSU reported Sandusky in 2001, it wouldn't have impacted PSU at all. The whole idea of a PSU cover-up to save football is nonsense.

In short, the 2001 incident meant a lot more to TSM than it did to PSU.

I've said since Day 1, Paterno or PSU had nothing to lose by reporting 2001. No way would it have had negative impact on FB program. In fact, Paterno, IMO, would've been a hero for reporting Sandusky... TSM, on the other hand, had everything to lose!

 

[Cruising Route 66]

TSM understood that an abuse finding against Sandusky in 2001 would have ended the charity's existence. That's why Bruce stopped it from happening. Without Sandusky people would have stopped donating.

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

 

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

Yes, and anyone with half a brain would realize these things.

Unfortunately the mainstream media has less brain power than a suicidal lemming on crack.

 

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

TSM was synonymous with Sandusky and Sandusky alone. Methinks the other entities you mentioned were way larger and not synonymous with a single alleged perp, whether said perp was founder, leader, or otherwise.

 

[demlion]

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

How long did TSM last after big Jer got indicted? Come on.

 

[rmb297]

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

Second Mile is a very small charity compared to those you mentioned ...and you forgot to mention the Boy Scouts!

Second Mile's Board of Directors were among the biggest donors to the charity, that's why Bruce didn't want to take it to the full board. They charity had a 100% donation rule for its directors....they had to donate to every event.

Here are the numbers for direct donation (not investment income or other sources),
Pre-abuse finding..
2008 > Revenues > 3,219,219
2009 > Revenues > 2,272,084

Sandusky under investigation. Directors, who are some of the key donors step away from charity after being informed

2010 > Revenues > 1,227,178
2011 > Revenues > 1,012,015

Scandal breaks
2012 > Revenues > 330,588

Thanks, CR. We can always count on you to talk out your backside with absolutely no information to back it up.

 

[rmb297]

How long did TSM last after big Jer got indicted? Come on.

See above

 

[bjf1984]

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

ROTFLMAO.

Even for YOU, that is rich!!

 

[wensilver]

Sheer speculation on your part. There are many non profits that have survived sexual and financial improprieties by their founders or leaders. Covenant House, Hale House, United Way of America, and the Catholic church are just a few that immediately come to mind.

Well - Second Mile did implode once Sandusky was charged. So there's that.

But what I don't understand is why, after complaints escalated thru the system in 1998, Dr. Jack didn't sit their charity Founder/Figurehead/Fundraiser down in a chair and say "Okay, FROM NOW ON, this is how it's gonna be" "NO one-on-one contact with Second Mile Kids. NO placing your hands, body parts or lips on Second Mile kids. NO telling these kids you 'I love you'. NO gifts to Second Mile kids unless it's thru our offices. NO jaunts up to campus, after hours, to 'work out' on equipment or tour facilities designed for elite, adult college athletes unless proper paperwork is in hand, and with a Co-Leader." ..blah blah blah.

"You wanna work with Second Mile kids - you WILL conduct yourself to these standards - otherwise, if a parent wants to escalate complaints - we're all screwed. You want to take that chance with your foster & adoptive kids, FINE, but NOT with our Second Mile clients. NOT ON MY WATCH."

Had Dr. Jack simply demanded that - 2001 never happens, and life goes on. Everyone is protected from false charges, innuendo, misunderstandings, yada yada yada.

All I got is Jack could give a shit - he was claiming a full work week at Second Mile, along with a full-time practice in town and was too busy drinking, hanging on the waitresses and swinging at the Autoport with all of his fancy "doctor" friends.

 

[Fox Chapel Lion II]

Here's what I get confused about. Why? What's in it for the TSM Board? for Heim?

Ned that is a damn good question. I don't have an answer. TSM was peanuts. Unless you were a Penn State aficionado, nobody ever heard of the damn thing. Heim and the Board were big time businessmen - they had plenty of things to occupy their time.

You either turn over Soapy and say, hey, we were all duped by this guy, or you just have some generic statement that our work here is finished and quietly shut the doors and everybody goes away. Nobody would even know TSM was gone.

So why would you go full tilt bozo to stonewall, obfuscate, and keep Sandusky propped up? It doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[demlion]

Here's what I get confused about. Why? What's in it for the TSM Board? for Heim?

Rich guys, as a rule, are not skilled at such esoteric interpersonal communications as, "I am sorry," and "I was wrong."

"I got duped," is basically an impossibility for this sort of person. Same is true of powerful guys. Their wealth and their power shield them from ever having to admit it.

And can we say they are mistaken to feel this way? Look at Heim. He is now 74 years old. In 2001 when he decided to have Jackie R not report it to the full board, he was 60. An unbelievable tsunami of bullshit crashed down in SC in November 2011, but he skated clear. JOE PATERNO got destroyed, CSS got indicted, PSU got sued, etc,etc,etc, and NONE of it touched Heim. From 60-70 he did whatever he wanted, and from age 70-74 he did very damn near whatever he wanted. We would not be talking about him now if it were not for the recklessness of McCombie and Heim in putting him up for the honorary captain coin toss thing. He was RIGHT! He would have paid no price and never would have had to admit anything to anyone about what he did.

 

[PennSt8er]

Ned that is a damn good question. I don't have an answer. TSM was peanuts. Unless you were a Penn State aficionado, nobody ever heard of the damn thing. Heim and the Board were big time businessmen - they had plenty of things to occupy their time.

You either turn over Soapy and say, hey, we were all duped by this guy, or you just have some generic statement that our work here is finished and quietly shut the doors and everybody goes away. Nobody would even know TSM was gone.

So why would you go full tilt bozo to stonewall, obfuscate, and keep Sandusky propped up? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Because Jerry was not the only old man with a fetish for young boys.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

We would not be talking about him now if it were not for the recklessness of McCombie and Heim in putting him up for the honorary captain coin toss thing. He was RIGHT! He would have paid no price and never would have had to admit anything to anyone about what he did.

I'm confident that Bruce Heim flips a coin at mid-field this past Saturday if it wasn't for "bjf".

He, like you, is a Change Agent in this far-from-over battle.

Kudos to you both, most recently bjf.

 

[PennSt8er]

Like or dislike him, I'm confident that Bruce Heim flips a coin at mid-field this past Saturday if it wasn't for "bjf". He, like you, is a change agent in this far-from-over battle.

Kudos to you both, most recently bjf.

BJF deserves huge credit. But rest assured. He's backed by an army of folks behind the scenes. Lots of people helped.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

BJF deserves huge credit. But rest assured. He's backed by an army of folks behind the scenes. Lots of people helped.

A tip of my hat to the bjf and the army.

 

[NapaNit]

Ned that is a damn good question. I don't have an answer. TSM was peanuts. Unless you were a Penn State aficionado, nobody ever heard of the damn thing. Heim and the Board were big time businessmen - they had plenty of things to occupy their time.

You either turn over Soapy and say, hey, we were all duped by this guy, or you just have some generic statement that our work here is finished and quietly shut the doors and everybody goes away. Nobody would even know TSM was gone.

So why would you go full tilt bozo to stonewall, obfuscate, and keep Sandusky propped up? It doesn't make any sense to me.

A hint.....it ain't the money this time.......it's the predilections.

 

[rmb297]

The skim????? ...... slush for politicians, the state GOP Committee, or organized crime?????

Or

Defrauding grant funding????

Orrrrr

Someone else shared Jerry's proclivities

Most likely, all of the above....given the porngate situation, it isn't very far fetched to believe some of the pols may have had a thing for kids. Look at the scandal in Parliament. Also, remember that The Second Mile included both girls and boys.

The most interesting thing about this scandal is how the people worked the system. Non-profit foundations are rarely audited, except by the auditors that they hire. Those firms aren't sending out their best people and these are audits based on trust, not forensic audits. Also, audits typically compare year-to-year and are not deep dives to see if the numbers make sense over time.

In other words, non-profits are ripe for fraud. Whose to say that a Second Mile donor writes a $50,000 check and Jack gives him a receipt for $100,000. Who would ever know?

 

[rmb297]

A hint.....it ain't the money this time.......it's the predilections.

But the money came in handy.

 

[rmb297]

Ned that is a damn good question. I don't have an answer. TSM was peanuts. Unless you were a Penn State aficionado, nobody ever heard of the damn thing. Heim and the Board were big time businessmen - they had plenty of things to occupy their time.

You either turn over Soapy and say, hey, we were all duped by this guy, or you just have some generic statement that our work here is finished and quietly shut the doors and everybody goes away. Nobody would even know TSM was gone.

So why would you go full tilt bozo to stonewall, obfuscate, and keep Sandusky propped up? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Some of the big time businessmen on the TSM Board made a lot of money from Penn State....and they also made big donations to Penn State. Just posing the "what if" question here...

...what if Mark Madden was right?

Madden's theory makes a hell of a lot of sense. Sandusky's PCRA filing reveals that he was taking the kids to "meet" these people. All the way to California to meet one of them.

And what if TSM also provided "adult services" to government officials? That certainly could explain why the 1998 investigation got scuttled and why the footdragging happened in 2009.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

This keeps coming up from time to time but when Penn State had the printing press under Hammond fired up night and day to send boxcars of cash to any victim who came forward, why didn't others? Where are all these other victims? It would explain a lot if it were true but I can't get my head around scores upon scores of victims not coming forward for the lottery win.

 

[Cruising Route 66]

Second Mile is a very small charity compared to those you mentioned ...and you forgot to mention the Boy Scouts!

Second Mile's Board of Directors were among the biggest donors to the charity, that's why Bruce didn't want to take it to the full board. They charity had a 100% donation rule for its directors....they had to donate to every event.

Here are the numbers,
Pre-abuse finding..
2008 > Revenues > 3,219,219
2009 > Revenues > 2,272,084

Sandusky under investigation. Directors, who are some of the key donors step away from charity after being informed

2010 > Revenues > 1,227,178
2011 > Revenues > 1,012,015

Scandal breaks
2012 > Revenues > 330,588

Thanks, CR. We can always count on you to talk out your backside with absolutely no information to back it up.

The revenue declines you listed are irrelevant to 2001. We're talking 2001 here when there had been no indictments or trials and all investigations came up empty. Had Jerry been asked to leave at that time, its likely the SM could and probably would have survived with the proper guidance and leadership.

You state with no basis in fact that revenue declines for the '08 to '11 time frame were precipitated by concerns about Jerry. I would suggest that those revenue declines were primarily the result of macro economic conditions that gave us the greatest recession in 50 years and near collapse of financial markets in 2007. I'm certain you'll find that most non profits over that time period experienced declines in their revenues. Hows that for backup and a more plausible explanation?

 

[john4psu]

Some of the big time businessmen on the TSM Board made a lot of money from Penn State....and they also made big donations to Penn State. Just posing the "what if" question here...

...what if Mark Madden was right?

Madden's theory makes a hell of a lot of sense. Sandusky's PCRA filing reveals that he was taking the kids to "meet" these people. All the way to California to meet one of them.

And what if TSM also provided "adult services" to government officials? That certainly could explain why the 1998 investigation got scuttled and why the footdragging happened in 2009.

What makes me wonder is - Madden, an attention whore if ever one existed, who silenced him after he suggested his theory, so much so that he hasn't brought it up since.

 

[rmb297]

What makes me wonder is - Madden, an attention whore if ever one existed, who silenced him after he suggested his theory, so much so that he hasn't brought it up since.

It's not a matter of being silenced, it's a matter of doing the work. Madden said he got that information from someone with real journalistic chops. My guess is that he was talking with Pitt grad Dom Consentino, who was with Deadspin at the time.

Deadspin actually did some of the best investigative work on the TSM financials, but like the rest of the media, the story went in a different direction and Consentino (and Deadspin) went with it.

Donald Gilliland, from the Patriot News also did the financial analysis behind Ganim's Pulitzer nominated piece, "One Big Family." But the PN editorial board skewed the story away from guys like Struthers, Shaner, Poole, and Heim and focused it on Paterno, who didn't even donate to the charity.

Madden has moved on too. To him, PSU is dead and buried...until we play Pitt again.

 

[rmb297]

The revenue declines you listed are irrelevant to 2001. We're talking 2001 here when there had been no indictments or trials and all investigations came up empty. Had Jerry been asked to leave at that time, its likely the SM could and probably would have survived with the proper guidance and leadership.

You state with no basis in fact that revenue declines for the '08 to '11 time frame were precipitated by concerns about Jerry. I would suggest that those revenue declines were primarily the result of macro economic conditions that gave us the greatest recession in 50 years and near collapse of financial markets in 2007. I'm certain you'll find that most non profits over that time period experienced declines in their revenues. Hows that for backup and a more plausible explanation?

Barron should hire you as his PR man.

Macroeconomic declines from 2009 to 2011...after the great recession..really?

2009 to 2010- S&P Up 23.45% DJIA - Up 18.82%
2010 to 2011 - S&P Up 12.78% DJIA- Up 11.02%

BTW DJIA was up in 2012 and up BIG in 2013. S&P was flat in 2012 and up BIG in 2013

Nice backup. What else do you have?

 

[massimoManca II]

You state with no basis in fact that revenue declines for the '08 to '11 time frame were precipitated by concerns about Jerry. I would suggest that those revenue declines were primarily the result of macro economic conditions that gave us the greatest recession in 50 years and near collapse of financial markets in 2007. I'm certain you'll find that most non profits over that time period experienced declines in their revenues. Hows that for backup and a more plausible explanation?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, sure.... Just a co-inky-dink!

 

[psuarva]

Barron should hire you as his PR man.

Macroeconomic declines from 2009 to 2011...after the great recession..really?

2009 to 2010- S&P Up 23.45% DJIA - Up 18.82%
2010 to 2011 - S&P Up 12.78% DJIA- Up 11.02%

BTW DJIA was up in 2012 and up BIG in 2013. S&P was flat in 2012 and up BIG in 2013

Nice backup. What else do you have?

Seriously - you're just saying that the DJIA was up after a near implosion from 9/08-3/09 at which point it reached the 6000s. Of course it went up from that point. That does not mean the economy was good. In fact it was awful in that period. Unemployment was sky high and people's mortgages were underwater.

 

[rmb297]

This keeps coming up from time to time but when Penn State had the printing press under Hammond fired up night and day to send boxcars of cash to any victim who came forward, why didn't others? Where are all these other victims? It would explain a lot if it were true but I can't get my head around scores upon scores of victims not coming forward for the lottery win.

First, 32 Sandusky victims came forward. Not exactly a small number. According to an AG source, over fifty have come forward.

Next, you may find this hard to believe, but some victims truly do want to put their abuse behind them. Some of them may never have disclosed the abuse to their families, but may have come forward privately to make the case against Sandusky. I am aware of some victims that are in that group.

Finally, there was a two year delay in the investigation getting to TSM. That would have given the charity time to "influence" some victims not to come forward. Also, the evidence reveals that at least one victim was enticed to come forward and vouch for Jerry's innocence.

 

[massimoManca II]

Seriously - you're just saying that the DJIA was up after a near implosion from 9/08-3/09 at which point it reached the 6000s. Of course it went up from that point. That does not mean the economy was good. In fact it was awful in that period. Unemployment was sky high and people's mortgages were underwater.

Yeah - Bruce Heim and his TSM country-clubber pals were in real dire straights in '08-09.... Barely made it!

 

[rmb297]

Seriously - you're just saying that the DJIA was up after a near implosion from 9/08-3/09 at which point it reached the 6000s. Of course it went up from that point. That does not mean the economy was good. In fact it was awful in that period. Unemployment was sky high and people's mortgages were underwater.

Obviously, I'll have to lay it out for you more precisely. Tell CR to pass you the lube.

 

[bjf1984]

Seriously - you're just saying that the DJIA was up after a near implosion from 9/08-3/09 at which point it reached the 6000s. Of course it went up from that point. That does not mean the economy was good. In fact it was awful in that period. Unemployment was sky high and people's mortgages were underwater.

"Missed it by THAT much!"

 

[towny87]

Yeah - Bruce Heim and his TSM country-clubber pals were in real dire straights in '08-09.... Barely made it!

Heim was obviously never in dire straights, he could always pull from is massive trust fund if needed .................... but it did seem as if there was a major cash crunch for Heim around that time period. The "P" hotel went from a 3 story grand hotel to a 2 story and then to a cracker barrel all in a matter of months

Others have also speculated the very same cash crunch around that time period is what allowed this to get away from TSM and they weren't able to keep everyone "in line"

 

[didier]

Ray,
There's a police services activity report in the UPPD files from 1998 that states Schreffler requested an incident number for an "ongoing investigation" in reference to Sandusky for June of that year. Of course the current narrative is that the case was "closed" by then. What do you think is going on here?

 

[bplionfan]

Some of the big time businessmen on the TSM Board made a lot of money from Penn State....and they also made big donations to Penn State. Just posing the "what if" question here...

...what if Mark Madden was right?

Madden's theory makes a hell of a lot of sense. Sandusky's PCRA filing reveals that he was taking the kids to "meet" these people. All the way to California to meet one of them.

And what if TSM also provided "adult services" to government officials? That certainly could explain why the 1998 investigation got scuttled and why the footdragging happened in 2009.

Madden if correct would have had to receive a tip from someone. Any idea who would have tipped him? It seems he has backed off mentioning it now in any discussion about Joe, Sandusky and PSU. Was he threatened by someone to not discuss any more?

My theory on Madden. Madden strikes me as someone who it would not surprise me he is hiding something.... He comes across as pretty creepy. He is a single older guy who talks about being attracted to some young male actor frequently. He coached young boys in deck hockey travelling with them all over the world. Its not like it was his kids and he was involved because of his kids. He is obsessed with porn. He came from a broken family. Apparently his father left him and his mother at a very young age. He has protested so loudly and frequently about Sandusky, You know what they say about those that protest so loudly.... Maybe Sandusky struck such a close chord with something he is hiding...

 

[crazytoadie]

You state with no basis in fact that revenue declines for the '08 to '11 time frame were precipitated by concerns about Jerry. I would suggest that those revenue declines were primarily the result of macro economic conditions that gave us the greatest recession in 50 years and near collapse of financial markets in 2007. I'm certain you'll find that most non profits over that time period experienced declines in their revenues. Hows that for backup and a more plausible explanation?

You state with no basis in fact that revenue declines for the '08 to '11 time frame were precipitated by macro economic conditions that resulted in less philanthropy or charitable giving. The Second Mile received the majority of its charitable funding from wealthy donors, board members, and affiliated businesses, especially in the State College area. These well to do benefactors typically don't stop giving completely, even in bad financial times.

In fact, during 2008, one of the worst years of the financial crisis, the Second Mile revenues were at a healthy $3.2 million. As the economy began to recover, the revenues didn't rebound, but continue to precipitously drop off. If it was due to macro economics, then one would expect the revenues in 2012 to be greater than in 2011, which in turn would have be equal or greater than 2010. That's not the trend that is seen. What is seen is the supporters of the Second Mile decreased or quit giving charitably and never returned to giving, which indicates they made a choice to NOT give to the charity rather than simply having to curtail the amount that they gave.

But perhaps the best example of where your "suggestion" of macro economics has erred from any basis in fact is to look at the comparable charitable givings to another State College based organization during the same years. Prior to the macro economic conditions that you reference, THON took in $4.2 million in 2006. As the economy tanked, THON managed to increase that to $5.2 million in 2007, $6.6 million in 2008, $7.4 million in 2009, $7.8 million in 2010, $9.5 million in 2011, $10.6 million in 2012, and $12.4 million in 2013. So in a 8 year period stretching across the same disastrous macro economic conditions facing The Second Mile, another State College philanthropy not only saw zero decrease in charitable giving, but actually produced an astounding 300% increase in giving despite the same national, regional, and local economic conditions. The decrease in charitable giving had nothing to do with the economic conditions as the THON totals demonstrate that there was plenty people will not only willing to giving charitable contributions, but also to give more than in the years previous. The decrease was rather the conscious choice that donors made to unaffiliate themselves with The Second Mile. I bet if you look at the Jared Foundation's financials, that you'll see a similar trend.

So to answer your question, that's not a very good "backup" explanation as it is not more plausible at all.