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| The incorporation of the Miami Beach PAL. From left to right: Mayor Harold Shapiro, Stan Ankin, Herman Press, Lt. Bob Thompson, Carl Fisher, Judge Irving Cypen, Sol Sabet, Martin Saxon. |
Founded in 1958, the Miami Beach Police Athletic League (oldest PAL in Florida) has an impressive track record as a community crime prevention program.
Under the leadership of a full-time police officer as Executive Director, and with vital assistance from a volunteer board made up of citizens and local law enforcement officers, PAL offers the youth of the community an array of recreational, athletic and educational activities. Programs are designed with a two-fold purpose: to create better relations between law enforcement officers and youth, and to prevent juvenile delinquency.
For almost 50 years, thousands of youths (ages six to twenty-one) have been involved with PAL programs.
Many former
PAL participants have become accountants, attorneys, doctors, educators,
fire fighters, police officers, and professional athletes, just to name
a few.
Opened in January 2001, the new 13,000 square foot state-of-the-art
facility features a computer lab; classrooms; a fitness center; meeting,
conference, library/reading rooms; offices; and wrestling, martial arts
and workout rooms.
This center
will enable PAL to offer classes on a regular basis to include after
school, evening and weekend programs, utilizing a pool of Miami Beach
Police Officers, PAL Board Members and community volunteers who will
provide positive role models for our youth. This will develop discipline,
self-esteem and positive moral values through wholesome programming
and competition. By holding classes in our facility in a controlled
environment during times of the day when the youths are not in school
and/or not supervised, we will help prevent juvenile crime and drug
abuse.
PAL:
Provides positive models and a caring atmosphere where youth can participate in structured, supervised activities throught the year.
Creates positive relations between police officers and the youth of our community. "Cops & Kids working together".
Works side by side with the City of Miami Beach Recreation Department and the Miami Beach Feeder Pattern Schools in both educational and athletic Programs.
Involves itself in the community by feeding needy families during the Thanksgiving season, holding clothes drives and volunteering for environmental clean-ups.
Is a non-profit organization but the entire community profits when more and more young people are turned away from the overwhelming temptations of crime, drugs and life on the street.