The Birth of PAL

During the 1930’2 a New York City Police Officer assigned to the crime prevention program was assigned to assist a local store keeper who was having trouble with a neighborhood gang that kept throwing rocks through his store window.  Lt Ed Flynn contacted the leader of the gang and arranged a meeting.

The gang was causing trouble in the neighborhood in part because they had no place to go and nothing else to do. Lt Flynn believed there was an opportunity to reach out and build a positive relationship with these ids to prevent them from getting into further trouble instead of simply arresting them.  Lt Flynn worked with fellow police officers and local businesses to collect money so they could buy baseball equipment for the youth and provide them with a safe place to play.

Since that time PAL has grown to more than 350 local chapters in over 700 cities throughout the country.

National PAL

The National Association of Police Athletic Leagues (NAPAL or PAL) is a non-profit 501c3 organization that was created to prevent juvenile crime and violence by providing education, training, and resources to local PAL chapters throughout the country. National PAL does not provide direct funding to local chapters. Funding at the local level is dependent on support from individual donations, business leaders, corporations, and foundations.

For more information about National PAL please visit their website.