[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8093-8094]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 ST. PETERSBURG POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF HELPING 
                                  KIDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, the St. Petersburg Police 
Athletic League celebrates 50 years of helping St. Petersburg's youth 
this Friday.
  When first established in 1960, the PAL program provided recreational 
activities for the youth of our community. Today their mission has 
grown to include a wide range of after-school and summer programs that 
go far beyond sports. PAL volunteers and staff provide educational 
support, sports, fitness, art and drama programs and the offerings 
continue to grow and evolve.
  The St. Petersburg PAL chapter now serves more than 500 youth per 
year. As PAL volunteer and former board member Ed Schatzman told The 
St. Petersburg Times recently, ``We know kids are receiving wholesome 
programs and great contact with police officers that will be a key to 
their choosing a positive path to being good citizens.''
  One of PAL's primary missions is truancy prevention as more than 300 
youth per year come to the program after they are caught by police 
officers skipping school. Through PAL, they receive help to improve 
their attendance, improve their academic performance, and are often 
referred to other agencies for help with drug treatment, counseling and 
school-based services.
  Melissa Byers, PAL's Executive Director, told The Times that more 
than 60 percent of these students show improved school attendance as a 
result of the intervention of police and the PAL program.
  Madam Speaker, The PAL program nationally and in St. Petersburg has 
proven to be a tremendous success in helping to build positive 
relationships between youth and police officers. They learn to build a 
bond of trust that keeps many young people from making mistakes that 
will haunt them for life.
  Following my remarks, I will include the story from The Times by 
Kathy Ferguson about PAL's great work in St. Petersburg. As Mr. 
Schatzman told the reporter, ``Our St. Pete PAL has kept kids on the 
right path for 50 years; and if that isn't important, I don't know what 
is. The kids of PAL will make St. Petersburg's future bright.''
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in 
thanking the St. Petersburg PAL chapter, the police officers who 
volunteer their time, the board members and the staff for a job well 
done. There will be a grand celebration of their service in St. 
Petersburg this Friday as the community comes together to celebrate 
``50 Years of Making a Difference'' and as they move on to their next 
50 years of serving the youth of our community.

              [From the St. Petersburg Times, May 9, 2010]

 For 50 years police have been pals to kids--The local Police Athletic 
                 League helps more than 500 kids a year

                          (By Kathy Ferguson)

       Boxing and double-dutch jump rope were all the rage in 1960 
     when the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg opened its 
     doors. Today PAL's athletics have grown to include 
     basketball, track and flag football. Athletics may be its 
     base, but sports are no longer PAL's only lineup. After-
     school and summer programs, Boy Scout troops, mentoring and a 
     truancy plan help more than 500 youngsters every year.
       This month, PAL celebrates 50 years of building positive 
     bonds between police officers and youths. A 1950s-style, 
     glamorous gala is set for Friday at the Renaissance Vinoy 
     Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Buccaneer 
     football great Mike Alstott serves as honorary chairman.
       Usually a Founders Club Breakfast is held. But this year's 
     anniversary was too important for an early riser salute, 
     Robin Grabowski, gala chairwoman, said.
       ``This is a major celebration for PAL,'' said Grabowski. 
     ``Everyone is invited to attend.''
       The gala will also applaud 50 PAL founders who supported 
     through donations or service.
       Ed Schatzman, who has dedicated 30 years to PAL, remembers 
     its humble start.
       ``The north end of the basketball court ended abruptly at 
     the basket because we couldn't fit a regulation court in the 
     building,'' Schatzman said. ``Our home team always had an 
     advantage because our kids knew how to `run up the wall' 
     during games.''
       The first facility was on Fifth Avenue N, near 16th Street. 
     Now PAL is at 1450 16th St. N, beside Woodlawn Elementary 
     School.

[[Page 8094]]

       Schatzman and his wife, Stefanie, sponsored a child for the 
     summer program last year. Schatzman has been involved in PAL 
     Scouts, served on the board of directors and helped with the 
     after-school reading program.
       ``We know kids are receiving wholesome programs and great 
     contact with police officers that will be key to their 
     choosing a positive path to being good citizens,'' Schatzman 
     said.
       Planting seeds, executive director Melissa Byers said, is 
     what PAL is all about. Its mission is crime prevention 
     through athletics, education and recreation.
       ``We offer young people opportunities to enrich their self-
     esteem and team-building skills in a structured, 
     nonthreatening environment,'' she said. The idea is to keep 
     kids busy between the peak hours of youth violence and crime 
     between 3 and 9 p.m.
       Programs include daily fitness, art, drama, soccer, tennis, 
     games, movies and homework time. Character development 
     focuses on issues like gang involvement, making choices, 
     stranger danger, bullying prevention and goal setting.
       A new emphasis is being placed on health and the 
     environment.
       ``We are planting an organic garden behind the facility and 
     putting more focus on healthy eating,'' Byers said.
       PAL works with disadvantaged youths, but children from all 
     walks of life are welcome. Scholarships are offered.
       More than 300 children each year get involved with PAL 
     through a truancy intervention program. Officers pick up 
     youngsters skipping school and wandering the streets. The 
     students are brought to PAL's facility. They get help with 
     ways to increase school attendance, improve their grades and 
     find out what else they need to be successful. Often they are 
     referred to outside services for help. That may mean 
     counseling, drug treatment or school-based services.
       ``This is a much more productive use of their days,'' Byers 
     said. The issues range from skipping school and low academics 
     to homelessness and substance abuse.
       Success is measurable.
       ``Over 60 percent of these students show improved 
     attendance as a result of this intervention,'' Byers said.
       ``Our St. Pete PAL has kept kids on the right path for 50 
     years; and if that isn't important, I don't know what is,'' 
     said Schatzman. ``The kids of PAL will make St. Petersburg's 
     future bright.''

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