January 28, 2008: North Toledo / Police Athletic League get $1 Million Assist from Kaptur

North Toledo's Deverell Flowers talks about the difference the Police Athletic League made in his life.

"A special thanks to our men and women in blue for helping me to advance a proposal for additional resources and for making a personal commitment to bettering the lives of young people in North Toledo and throughout our community," said Kaptur.   "Our Police Athletic League has risen to the call again and I commend its Board, all of the officers who give of their time, and our citizens who have also stepped up to help PAL raise funds from the local private sector, making this a true community partnership for the betterment of our youth," added Kaptur.

During public meetings following the 2005 incident, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur listened to people in the community, and looked for positive alternatives for young people.   The Toledo-Lucas County Police Athletic League (PAL) was among those who spoke with Kaptur about their community-wide programs for youth.   Kaptur, seeing the effort as a model for engaging young people, used her position on the House Appropriations Committee to direct funding to PAL through DoJ's budget. 
 
The Police Athletic League's goal is to prevent juvenile violence and crime by providing athletic, recreational and educational opportunities to youth in an environment that builds trust and understanding between police officers and youth.  Currently, PAL offers baseball, basketball, young women's mentoring and tutoring programs, and camping. 

An agreement between the Toledo Public Schools and PAL will provide access to the gym at the former Leverette Junior High School and allow the group to regularize programming for baseball, softball, basketball and to potentially revive youth boxing as well as provide space for academic tutoring.  When the former school is no longer needed for swing space in the system's reconstruction program, the school will be removed and acreage for sports fields will result. 

PAL will use the federal funds to hire a Program Manager and pay tutors on an  hourly basis as well as to purchase equipment including computers for tutoring, sports equipment, camping supplies and to assist with rent and utilities.