Throughout this month, Penn State students in One Heart Campaign (@OneHeartPSU) will team up with Pennsylvania’s Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) to raise awareness and funds for the prevention of the sexual abuse of children. Through its efforts, One Heart seeks to lead the Penn State community in a stand against child sexual abuse, especially in light of the alleged crimes of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

The One Heart Campaign, an initiative established by Smeal Sapphire students through the larger organization of One Heart, will work through this month to achieve its goal of awareness and fundraising. Campaign co-founder Dan Rost told Penn State Live how the issue of child sexual abuse “has shaken the Penn State community” and that he has “spoken to so many students that want to take action.” Rost described the mission of One Heart as building upon the relationship that the Penn State established with PCAR in December 2011 so that “alumni, corporate partners, and other individuals and groups across the country” can help “make a difference for victims and families”.

As described by Kristen L. Houser, the vice president of communications and development for PCAR, the One Heart Campaign will enable “the students of Penn State” to challenge “alumni and friends to join them and join [PCAR] and the University in the fight to protect children.”

Here’s to the efforts of Rost (sophomore-finance/accounting) and Campaign co-founders Tori Smith (sophomore-finance), Anand Ganjam (freshman-finance/accounting), and Zack DeVoti (sophomore-finance) and all the students involved with the One Heart and the One Heart Campaign as they bring the focus of our community back to the victims and their families.

For more information on how to get involved with the One Heart, visit their Facebook page or their website. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 7:30 in 106 Boucke, and be sure to email any questions to [email protected].

And for those who wish to make a monetary contribution to the cause, visit the website of PCAR’s Vision of Hope Fund.