STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Special Olympics of Pennsylvania says it has received about $80,000 in donations in memory of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.
Paterno died Jan. 22, less than three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, his family requested donations be made to Special Olympics or the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which benefits pediatric cancer research and care. The dance marathon begins Friday.
Special Olympics president Matt Aaron said this week some donations to his charity came from other schools. He says some people sent donations of $61, in honor of the number of years Paterno worked at Penn State.
Paterno’s wife, Sue, is one of the lead organizers for the Special Olympics’ Summer Games, held on the Penn State campus in June.
