As they rode to the welcoming house at the top of Mulberry Street, in the shadow of Nay Aug Park, Matt McGloin and his father, Paul, couldn't help but discuss the numbers one more time.
Last year, 843 abused, neglected children arrived at that house - the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania - looking for help. They were told to expect an even higher total when the final numbers are totaled for 2012. Perhaps it will top 1,000.
"That just blew our minds," Paul McGloin said. "Matt said to me, 'It's Scranton. Everybody knows everybody. How could you even think that would be going on in our area like that? We have to get the message out.' "
Penn State's all-conference quarterback has been planning to do so since the summer. Next weekend, the fruits of that planning will be evident to the city in which he grew up.
During a joint news conference Wednesday morning, Mr. McGloin and officials from the center announced a pair of fundraisers set for Dec. 15 that will work to raise money and awareness for the center and area children who are victims of abuse.
In the afternoon, "Tailgate for Kids" will be held from 1 to 4 at St. Mary's Center, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton. A family-oriented event, it will include a meet-and-greet with Mr. McGloin and other members of the Penn State football team and coaching staff. There will be an autograph session, football tosses, tailgate food, live entertainment and games. Tickets are $10 per person.
The fundraiser continues at night with "An Evening with Matt McGloin and Friends," from 7 to 10, also at St. Mary's Center. The event includes a meet-and-greet with Mr. McGloin and the Nittany Lions on hand, in addition to an open bar, hot hors d'oeuvres, carving stations, music, live entertainment and raffles. Tickets are $50 per person.
"After everything that has happened at Penn State, and with stuff like this going on in your hometown, you want to help out and give back in any way you can," Mr. McGloin said. "It's such a great cause. We want to take advantage of those opportunities and make Scranton a better place.
"My mother always told me, 'Don't forget where you came from.' Whenever there's a chance to come back and help out, I'm going to do it."
The West Scranton graduate recently won the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's best player who began his career as a walk-on. During his senior season, he threw for 3,266 yards and 24 touchdowns and set nine career or season records and tied another, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten for his efforts.
The Children's Advocacy Center is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization whose mission is "to provide excellence in the assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect." It offers medical and social services to abused children and their families, giving them specialized care to navigate their way through difficult times.
Mary Ann LaPorta, executive director of the center, expects Dec. 15 to be "managed chaos, in a good way." She said the attention the events received before Wednesday's announcement with Mr. McGloin already has yielded hundreds of requests for tickets to Tailgate with Kids, adding that Mr. McGloin will meet individually with as many children as he can.
She said that while the fundraising power he and his Nittany Lions teammates can pack is important, Mr. McGloin's work with the center is worth its weight in just the energy it brings to workers there and the children who use its services. More than anything, Ms. LaPorta hopes Mr. McGloin's involvement will engage and inspire the community, which in turn will help the center coordinate protective measures for area children.
In that regard, that makes Mr. McGloin, no stranger to beating the odds, the perfect spokesman for a group trying to help children overcome adversity.
"I think the way Matt was able to address adversity, to do what nobody thought was possible, to have the courage to put himself forward in that very risky situation of not being on the team or not being the quarterback or just sitting on the bench, that is inspirational," Ms. LaPorta said. "This is the kind of dynamic energy you hope for the inspiration of the children in your communities. That's to say nothing of the adults, because we also need that kind of energy."
Several Penn State players and coaches are expected to be on hand for both events, but NCAA rules prohibit organizers from announcing which ones are planning to attend.
Mr. McGloin's teammate and fellow West Scranton graduate Eric Shrive said he's looking forward to the event.
"It's an honor and privilege to be working with such a great bunch of people to support the Children's Advocacy Center," Mr. Shrive said. "We hope the people of Scranton come up and show their support for such a wonderful cause. My teammates and I are excited for this event."
Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.comIf you go
n When: Dec. 15
n Where: St. Mary's Center, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton
n What: Tailgate for Kids, 1-4 p.m.: The family-oriented event includes a meet-and-greet with McGloin, members of the Penn State football team and coaching staff, autographs, football tosses, tailgate food, live entertainment, games and raffles; tickets: $10 per person. An Evening with Matt McGloin and Friends, 7-10 p.m.: The adults-only event includes a meet-and-greet with Mr. McGloin, PSU football players and coaches, open bar, hot hors d'oeuvres, carving stations, music, live entertainment and raffles; tickets are $50 per person.
n Contact: Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania at 969-7313.