Rizzo PAL Alumna Shares PAL Experiences
PAL Alumna, Jessica Madden
When I was in seventh grade, a friend of mine who was involved with Positive Images, a girls group at PAL, asked me if I wanted to come with her. I willingly accepted her invitation, although I had no idea what the program was about. For the next three years, I was involved with Positive Images and PAL Challenge.
PAL gave me so many opportunities that I wanted to give back. I was not big into sports, so I could not help out with those programs at PAL. When I approached Officer Ernie, I had two main concerns: How could I help? And how could I create more girls programs? At the time, I had been dancing for fourteen years, and that was virtually all I knew. Officer Ernie gave me the opportunity to start the Rizzo PAL Dance Program. I held registration that fall, met with parents, and got a feel for how I wanted to run my program. It was a huge responsibility, and I am still thankful to Officer Ernie for taking a chance on me. At the end of the season, the girls put on their first recital for their parents-
Rizzo Dance warmups
a really exciting experience. I ran the Rizzo Dance program for the next four years until I graduated high school.
Officer Ernie’s role in my life was huge. He gave me opportunities that I would have never gotten otherwise – a chance to shadow Philadelphia’s Managing Director at PAL Day at City Hall, and the chance to be awarded the PAL Scholarship and the Union League Scholarship for college. I am so thankful to have someone in my life that has helped me as much as he has. He taught me how to be a caring person, especially
Practice makes perfect!
when he trusted me with running the dance program. I cannot imagine my life without Officer Ernie and the experiences he provided for me. I will forever be thankful to PAL and all that it has done for me.
I am now a sophomore at Immaculata University, and I am still dancing. I know that
Fun at Rizzo Dance!
PAL is not the end of my journey with helping kids – I am an education major and hope to help at least one kid the way PAL and Officer Ernie helped me.
Note: The Dance Program is still being offered at Rizzo PAL, and is currently led by Little Flower High School students, Kristin Kahlert and Veronica Fresta.
Jessica Madden is truly a great role model for the girls at Rizzo PAL along with Kierstin and Veronica. These girls have given so much of their time to the young ladies at Rizzo PAL. I have had the oppotunity to watch this program grew over the years and I am very proud of all the ladies invovled!
Thanks for the kind words Jess… Remember that you also anchored the Rizzo PAL Challenge team that won the citywide championship in 2004. You will forever be remembered along with Theresa, Sean, Nick, Pat and Tom because I see your name on the Championship banner hanging on the Rizzo PAL wall everyday. Also, we are running the 6th annual dance program here at Rizzo PAL that would not have been possible without your guidance and leadership in the very beginning.. Now that’s a great legacy to have.. I also want to be selfish and hope that after you get your bacholars degree, you get a job locally so that you can come back and do dance with the Rizzo PAL girls…