Burns: St. Francis gets $28,500 grant to combat sexual assault
$2.44 million in state aid awarded to university since 2017
Rep. Frank Burns January 17, 2020 | 10:57 AM
EBENSBURG, Jan. 17 – A key supporter of legislation to expand the statute of limitations to allow victims of child sexual abuse to seek justice, state Rep. Franks Burns today announced a $28,500 grant to St. Francis University to combat campus sexual assault.
Burns, D-Cambria, said the grant gives St. Francis additional resources to address a serious problem and pushes to $2.44 million the total amount of state help he’s directed to the university since 2017.
“As I worked to hold accountable those who dared to take sexual advantage of children, I now work to send a message to those who would select their victims on a college campus,” Burns said. “That message is, ‘We’re coming after you, too’ if you prey on people in a higher education setting.”
Burns said the latest funding comes through Pennsylvania’s “It’s on Us” campaign, which has enlisted thousands of students, teachers, families and communities to make a personal and public pledge to help prevent, address and respond effectively to sexual violence.
Burns’ commitment to St. Francis in recent years includes:
A $1.9 million state grant to develop a Business Aviation Management Degree Program in conjunction with John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, as part of Burns’ effort to support innovative job creation.
A $500,000 state grant to boost its Health Service Program by adding two floors that include digitally equipped classrooms to Sullivan Hall.
A $19,700 state grant to boost its “Energy In Action” program that offers students hands-on learning in energy conservation and renewable energy technologies.
Additionally, Burns holds an annual food drive that last year delivered three vehicles filled with more than 2,500 donated food items to the university’s Dorothy Day Outreach Center, to help local families in need.