The child sexual abuse case of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky became one of the most notorious scandals of modern times. It tore apart the residents of State College, Pa., brought shame to the football program and the university, and generated much discussion about the issue of child sexual abuse. Neil White, who tells the stories of Children’s Trust, talked to Matt Sandusky at a recent benefit dinner for Durant’s Children Center, where the adopted son of Jerry Sandusky spoke of how he finally came to terms with his own abuse.
FLORENCE, S.C. — Matt Sandusky told his story softly and unflinchingly.
Speaking at a benefit for the Durant Children’s Center at the Florence Civic Center, he directly addressed the difficult subject of child sexual abuse. The adopted son of former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted in 2012 on 45 charges of sexually abusing 10 boys, discussed the stark reality of his own abuse and the rebirth he has experienced since coming forward four years ago.
“I hold no shame,” he said. “I’m not embarrassed by it. I’m not running from it.”
Matt emphasized the importance of victims coming forward to find the help and resources to rebuild their lives. These days he speaks to groups across the country about the issue. His book, “Undaunted: Breaking My Silence to Overcome the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse,” details how he finally was able to break the silence after hearing another victim bravely testify during the trial of his adoptive father, who was given a jail sentence of 30 to 60 years.
Gloria Davis, Durant Children’s Center program director, and Matt Sandusky greeted attendees just before the benefit dinner where Sandusky told his personal story of being a survivor of child sexual abuse.
In addition, he and his wife, Kim, started the Peaceful Hearts Foundation in 2014 to raise public awareness of child sexual abuse.
“It is so worth it to face it and stand up to it,” he said. “I will not be silenced.”
Matt calls child sexual abuse an epidemic and a public health crisis because so many are unwilling to talk about it. Silence is the ally of abusers, who can be family members, friends, and neighbors. They can be found in homes, schools, churches, recreation centers and youth sports leagues.
According to statistics from Darkness to Light, a national organization committed to ending child sexual abuse, 90 percent of abusers are someone the child knows, which can include a trusted person like Jerry Sandusky. One in 10 children is sexually abused by the age of 18, and only 38 percent of child victims disclose the fact they’ve been sexually assaulted.
Matt’s revelation created a wide split with Jerry Sandusky’s wife Dottie and five other adopted children. After he found the courage to come forward, Matt saw his character and motives questioned by family members and their supporters.
“I’ve been up against a lot of odds, people who attack me everywhere I go and come after me, and that’s fine,” he said. “It shows you don’t have to be scared or afraid.”
Matt stated his physical abuse first began at a very young age with his biological father, which led to the fracturing of his impoverished family. At the age of 7, he met the former Penn State coach as a camp participant in Sandusky’s Second Mile youth program, and he was placed in Sandusky’s home as a foster child. He said the regular bedtime abuse continued until a suicide attempt at 17. He was later adopted by the Sanduskys, but he stayed quiet until he was 33.
Since that time, he has stayed in counseling once a week – “I’m still working on myself,” he noted – as he spreads his public message about the need to protect children. He admits the subject matter is hard for people to hear about and discuss, but he’s emphatic about how much harder it is for the victims.
“We need to be proactive. We need to make sure these children are never sexually abused,” he said.
Gloria Davis serves as the director for the Durant Children’s Center, a comprehensive program for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of child and adolescent physical and sexual abuse serving the Pee Dee area. The Hartsville-based center recently joined with Children’s Trust as a prevention partner in a new network for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Matt Sandusky’s book, “Undaunted”
Davis stated the March event was more than a fundraiser. She wants her area communities to understand the depth of the problem and learn how Durant Children’s Center can provide help. Landing Matt Sandusky as a keynote speaker helped the organization put a spotlight on child sexual abuse.
“I have learned a lot of people think it doesn’t happen to males. We want to make people aware it happens to males and females,” Davis said. “We wanted people to really hear his story. We wanted people to know that you can recover. There’s help, there are resources out there.”
Davis also is excited to pair up with Children’s Trust on leading prevention efforts with partners across the state.
“Don’t just turn your back,” she said. “It’s a community issue. Everyone needs to get involved. That’s our main focus.”
Matt also challenged the dinner’s attendees to get involved and start conversations about eliminating child sexual abuse. He’s ready to lead the way by continuing to tell his story now that he has let go of his dark secret.
“From my heart, it’s nice to be able to speak the truth, to open up more space, and allow love to come in,” he said. “I’m trying to get a message to all of us to care more, to love more, and to be better people than we were yesterday. All of this is part of my healing journey. You realize the power in being able to use your voice, and once you break through, you want to do it more.”
