The Niagara Police Athletic League had it's beginnings in a football
team in 1967. Five Patrolmen had an idea to form a youth football team, and
did so, the Niagara Knights. In 1970 they wanted to diversify and add baseball.
But the football association had been incorporated for football only and could not
include baseball. Another vehicle was researched and PAL through cooperation
with Buffalo and New York City, Niagara PAL was founded. Over the years there
were numerous trials and tribulations. Politics of a particular Chief, good,
bad, and indifferent Executive Directors, budget constraints, program difficulties,
etc., but through it all growth and evolution in the community. What it has
become is probably the most viable youth organization in Western New York.
The local media once referred to Niagara PAL as the renaissance agency of youth
agencies, a label we like to think fits. Niagara PAL has about 60 programs
with in excess of 16,000 participants annually. It has been, and is, on the
cutting edge of innovative programming in the area. Niagara PAL pioneered
the sharing of resources and people with all the agencies, school systems, and organizations
that service youth. Niagara PAL from humble beginnings in Niagara Falls, now
touches the eight contiguous counties of Western New York in it's programming efforts.
Niagara PAL has all that you expect of a PAL, basketball, boxing,
baseball, soccer, volleyball, and so on. But we also have the largest scholarship
programs, Students of Excellence, honors 42 seniors from 14 high schools for their
contributions in leadership, service, and scholarship, and the Memorial Scholarship,
based on 40% community service, that solicits nominees from 115 WNY high schools.
Why do I tell you all of this? And this is only a part of the story.
There is also Artwheels, Bicycle Safety Rodeos, Christmas programs at Children's
Hospital, community cleanups, fingerprinting, handicapped programming, the Juvenile
Justice Board, Youth Court, and tutoring, I think you get the idea. But the
reason is two-fold.
You are sitting there thinking, but how do you pay for all of this?
The payroll costs have to be astronomical and the overhead to maintain it all beyond
comprehension. Niagara PAL has only two employees. Neither person receives
any fringe benefits. How does that work you say, and can it work for me?
How it works is the over 300 active volunteers that establish policy, set-up programs,
and then follow them through to completion. They willingly offer their time,
talent, and effort for the kids. People like the manafer of the Buffalo/Niagara
Airport, a Supreme Court and a Surrogate Court Judge, the VP of the Chamber of Commerce,
the Niagara County Sheriff, numerous teachers and Police Officers, a principal or
two, a couple of administrators and a large variety of individuals and youth.
They give more than 12,000 volunteer hours a year to PAL. PAL can be adapted
to your needs. What works in Niagara Falls may not work for you, but PAL will.
You can spend a million dollars ro work from a small budget. You can assign
an officer or look to volunteers. You know your department and community and
what will work or not. PAL can, and usually will, fit into what is available.
PAL can work for you.
In order to accomplish all of this two basics are necessary.
A commitment, hopefully from you, and money. And probably a third, a little
help from your friends, us. If you make the commitment we can provide the
logistical support through the national office, or a PAL near you, whatever it takes,
and we are working on the money. If you would like any further information
regarding starting a PAL or just general PAL information visit
National PAL.
