Athletic League
2019 Annual Report
Niagara Police Athletic League
The year 2020 is the 50th anniversary of the Niagara Police Athletic League. During that half century, it is estimated that more than 600,000 young people have benefited to varying degrees from being a “PAL Kid!” And more than 12,000 volunteers of all ages have contributed more than 400,000 hours in support of their endeavors.
Niagara PAL has been an innovator in youth programming, attempting to create and not duplicate what others are successfully doing for youth. Over those five decades Niagara PAL has been a community leader in establishing new endeavors for youth. The following is a chronological history of some of those endeavors.
Judge Niagara PAL’s continuing positive impact on youth for yourself.
Niagara Police Athletic League
A Half Century of Innovation and Service
~1967 – Forerunner to Niagara PAL –Niagara Knights 105lb football team
1970 Added a baseball and started actual PAL
1974 Attended first National PAL tournament basketball in Indianapolis
1976 Hosted National PAL basketball tournament (first of many)
1981 Established scholarship program that developed into Students of Excellence*
1981 Started Festival of Lights BasketballTournament (currently Cataract City Classic)*
1981 Hosted National PAL basketball tournament
1981 Hosted fighters from the Derry City, Ireland Rosemont Boxing Club
1983 Established the Sports Award Dinner*
1983 Charter member International Year of theYouth commissioned by the United Nations
1984 Olympics trials marathon
1984 Students of Excellence *
1984 Hosted National PAL boxing tournament (Mike Tyson fought)
1985 International Youth Conference - Japan - International Year of the Youth
1986 Festival of Lights Tournament added girl’s teams
1987 Christmas in July and December at Children’s Hospital
1987 Magna Charta exhibition
1987 Established SADD chapters in Niagara County schools
1988 Niagara Falls Grand Prix
1989 Elementary School Run*
1989 Hosted National PAL baseball and basketball tournaments
1990 Instructional soccer program*
1991 Niagara Nights midnight basketball program
1991 Youth Forum
1992 16 & under girl’s basketball National PAL champion
1993 World University Games – hosted two venues, gymnastics and baseball
1993 Katie Crocker (Curry) and Jeff Paterson first Presidential Awards in the United States
1994 Christmas in July and December at School 84
1994 Youth Forum Community Leader’s luncheon
1995 Can/Am – Alan R. Elia Memorial Basketball Tournament
1996 Hosted Inaugural National PAL Youth Festival
1997 Hosted 2nd Annual National PAL Youth Festival
1998 World Baseball Congress - Japan
1998 Kidz & Kites*
1998 Exchange Program with New York City PAL
1999 Youth Court #
1999 National PAL Youth Enrichment Act – co-authored and lobbied for passage
2000 Do The Right Thing*
2001 Every 15 Minutes
2002 Easter Event
2002 Partnership for Youth
2005 Breakfast with Santa *
2005 Spooktacular
2005 Organized and implemented PAL Youth Leadership Conference in Washington DC
2006 Mark “Chief” Williams Memorial Basketball Tournament
2006 Twelve Days of Christmas *
2006 Great Niagara Steakout *
2007 Girls Lacrosse
2007 Youth to Youth literacy
2007 Affecting Youth TV show
2010 Fine Arts Awards *
2011 9//11 10th Anniversary ceremony
2011 Alan Elia Memorial Scholarship *
2012 PAL telethon
2012 Instructional golf *
2012 Holiday Card signing *
2014 Instructional tennis *
2016 Chess program *
2017 PAL/Wolverine Chess Tournament *
2017 Santa Dash 5K *
2017 Easter Camp *
2018 Power Baseball PAL Night *
2018 Kids Running Club *
2018 Halloween Event *
2019 Kids Free Play Days *
2019Developmental Track Meets *
*Denotes new program
# Reestablished by the Niagara Falls School District
The Niagara Police Athletic League, like most youth serving agencies, is dependent on the support of the community in the form of contributions, sponsorships, etc., in an effort to maintain, let alone expand, youth programs.
PAL has been successful in keeping costs low so that funds go to programs not overhead. To be able to provide quality youth programs for an additional half century, PAL will need your support.
Niagara PAL was once referred to as the
renaissance agency of youth agencies, we concur!
“Kids Are Our Business”
2019 Niagara Police Athletic League Program Summary
Baseball Year two at the Niagara Power Game brought a large crowd and Liam and Fiona threw out the first pitch along with the Sheriff and Board President. A schedule for the clinics could not be worked out – hopefully in 2020!
Basketball Specialty games and tournaments appear to be a thing of the past, but the instructional aspects are still strong.
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Girls Summer High School League. Due to construction at NFHS the league went to Lewiston Porter for the year.
Elementary School League: Program continues to allow the future stars to develop their skills.
JV Boys League: Again, an additional opportunity for younger players to get better at their craft.
Brian Swayze Students of Excellence One of the better scholarship programs encompassing a wide range of schools and students.
Chess Chess is being played almost everywhere with programs at all grade levels and in the community. Thanks to George!
Page BreakConcession Trailer Provides not only an opportunity to generate a small amount of income but is also training for future business leaders.
PAL Summer Soccer Program: Affordable prices for the pizza, candy and pop after tennis and soccer.
Kidz & Kites: Support for the program by preparing lunch and selling a few slices.
Wildlife Festival: Serving breakfast and lunch to the volunteers and making a few dollars for the PAL coffers.
Counseling As needed!
Distracted Driving A never ending process.
Do The Right Thing The number of kids that continue to do what is correct is amazing.
Do The Right Thing Ceremony: Four times a year at Niagara Falls and Starpoint. Students who that gave the extra effort are recognized.
Drug/Alcohol Awareness Again, the never-ending effort to educate.
Easter Camp Kids from the Boy’s Club were in attendance as well as PAL kids, but all NF School District students at the Ralph Wilson Community Center for both weeks.
Elementary School Run Numbers were down a little, but still an exceptional event for the young runners.
Fine Arts Awards It never ceases to amaze just how talented the high school artists and musicians are and their work is on display for all at the Castellani with an opportunity for a monetary award.
Golf Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control there was not a youth golf program. Hopefully it will be back in 2020.
Great Niagara Steakout Another “Great” day on the golf course!
Join us at:
“The 15th Annual PAL Great Niagara Steakout”
Monday July 6th, 2020 Niagara Frontier Country Club
Halloween Event Year two brought some excellent costumes, a day of soccer, Halloween games and a successful basket auction at the Wilson Center. A fun day.
Holiday Card Signing NFHS students take the time to sign a few holiday cards for the shut-ins and less fortunate.
Internships Provide assistance in a variety of ways to students attempting to get real life experience in the workplace.
Jingle Falls More events added and more people attending.
Santa Dash 5K A new course along the scenic upper Niagara River, a new division, the high school teams, and a nice December day to run. The run just gets better. The highlight was the family that traveled 1502 miles from Texas to compete.
Kids Free Play Days* In concert with the Wilson Foundation and assisted by the Niagara Power baseball team kids participated in three days of activities of their choosing, from kick ball Frisbee, jump rope, and more, with no other expectation than having fun!
Kids Running Club Introducing the kids to the benefits of being a runner.
Kidz & Kites A little community service, preparing lunch for the kite flyers and selling a slice of pizza or two.
Ralph Wilson Niagara Community Center the center provided an opportunity for many programs to take place, chess, Halloween Event, soccer, Easter Camp, among others.
Scholarships Honoring the most deserving high school seniors in a multitude of areas.
Soccer: Scholarships to deserving PAL soccer players in the memory of John Travis and Richard Klusak.
Fine Arts Awards: All the art and music students are recognized for their outstanding achievements.
Mark “Chief” Williams Memorial Scholarship: Mark’s legacy continues through the
efforts of Niagara Falls High School seniors.
Comeback Athlete of the Year: A male and female high school athlete that suffered a
serious injury and was able to return to sports, sponsored by University Sports Medicine and NF Memorial Hospital.
Mr. & Mrs. Alan R. Elia Memorial Scholarship: In honor of the Mr. & Mrs. Alan Elia
Sr. to a male and female high school basketball player.
Brian Swayze Students of Excellence – See Swayze, Brian Page 1
Soccer The number participating, especially in the instructional programs, continues to grow.
Summer: Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the NFHS Athletic Complex for those kids
ages 4 to 12, learning the basics or developing their skills.
House: Saturdays during the summer for those more advanced or those that can’t make
during the week, but again, the emphasis is on development and fun.
Fall: Saturdays in September and October with a more competitive level of play.
Indoor: Two sessions during the winter at the Wilson Center with a few travel teams
playing at other sites.
Travel: For the players that want increased competition, they travel throughout Western
New York competing with the best.
Special NeedsPAL attempted to support their programs and became more involved with the Unified Sports.
Sports Awards The best high school athletes that Western New York has to offer are recognized for their accomplishments in competitive sports.
Tennis Increased numbers taking up the sport under the tutelage of Lauren, Yaz and Max.
Theater* Niagara PALs inaugural effort into the thespian world with a presentation of the Princess and the Pea under the direction of Alex Gentile.
Track & Field* Two days of development track meets as a part of the Wilson Foundation concept of allowing all youth to participate regardless of ability and without the pressure of who wins and who loses.
Twelve Days of Christmas About 90 families were able to have a holiday dinner through the efforts of NFHS, NFPD and PAL.
Van A busy travel schedule again in 2019 with more than 80 field trips that covered in excess of 2,800 miles traveled.
Volunteer Fair Supported NUREnew’s efforts to provide information to prospective volunteers.
Wilson Foundation The mission of the foundation continued with a myriad of events and programs throughout the year, Free Play Day at New Era Field, Volunteer Coaches’ Recognition Awards, Project Play, Community Foundation Awards, the aforementioned Kids Play Days, development track meets and more.
Youth Court A little logistical support for the Niagara Falls High School very successful program.
Youth Forum The youth volunteers not only provide the necessary support for current programs and events, they hopefully will be the future as well.
*Denotes new program.
Respectfully submitted,
Art
Arthur E. Eberhart
Executive Director