2012 PAL Award Dinner

PAL Award Dinner Honors Three Outstanding Individuals

On May 9, 2012, the Police Athletic League proudly bestowed the PAL Award on three very deserving honorees, Dennis Bianchi of WTXF FOX 29 Philadelphia, Daniel K. Fitzpatrick of Citizens Bank and Carole Haas Gravagno, Advocate for Youth and Friend of the Arts. These three individuals were selected for this honor for their unwavering support of and dedication to providing countless opportunities to underserved children and teens of this City through their individual philanthropy and encouragement of corporate and foundation support of PAL.

The 2012 PAL Award Dinner was held at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel. At 5:00 p.m., PAL’s Silent Auction kicked off the festivities. Hundreds of supporters swarmed into the auction area to bid on high-end items, experiences, vacations, sports memorabilia and more. A live auction, which offered guests the chance to bid on Phillies Phantasy Camp, a Riviera Maya vacation and an evening for 40 people in a customized restaurant, took place later in the evening.

The program, which was hosted by 6 ABC’s Cecily Tynan, began at 7 p.m. Several PAL youngsters were highlighted during the program portion of the event, including one young lady from Logan PAL, who beautifully belted out God Bless America. Attendees also heard from Erin Dwyer, who was the Honorary Mayor during this year’s PAL Day at City Hall, and Amile Jefferson, a McDonald’s All-American Senior Basketball Player from Southwest PAL. During the program, guests heard from speakers such as Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and listened to remarks from each of the honorees. The Police Athletic League is proud to call each award recipient a friend of PAL.

PAL thanks everyone who made this wonderful evening so special for the honorees and for those in attendance. As always, all proceeds from the event will directly support PAL’s educational, athletic, recreational and cultural programming.

Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall

Future Leaders Run City of Philadelphia for a Day

PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 28, 2011 -Twenty-six deserving PAL students who have achieved success both in school and in their PAL centers were rewarded for their hard work, dedication and efforts. Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall, a 40-year tradition in Philadelphia, took place on February 28, 2011. Joey Bozzelli, a Gibbons PAL youngster who was selected to be PAL Mayor for the day, has been involved with PAL since he was a child and has participated in all that PAL has to offer. The 26 PAL students were then transported to City Hall where they met with their Government Representatives and were appointed their positions for the day Mayor Nutter spoke to the youth, congratulated them on their achievements and let them know they had their work cut out for them. Nutter’s speech was followed by Bozzelli’s speech, which focused on the wonderful opportunities that PAL provides for youth and echoed Nutter’s sentiments of congratulations. Bozzelli also encouraged all youth to get involved with PAL, mentioning that he doesn’t know what he would have done without PAL.

Following Bozzelli’s speech, the students took the Oath of Office and were called up individually with their representative to be recognized for their accomplishments. Nutter spoke personally with each of the “new government officials” and presented them with a glass plaque commemorating the occasion. Jokingly, Nutter asked the new head of the Philadelphia Parking authority to “help him out with a few old tickets.”

After a meet-and-greet lunch, students were off to work for the day, tackling real issues and running the City Government. PAL Day at City Hall was a huge success, and PAL’s youth constituency deserve to be commended for a job well done. Thanks to Lockheed Martin Corporation for sponsoring this wonderful event, the City of Philadelphia for its partnership with PAL and Charming Shoppes, Inc. and Tate’s Menswear for providing the young women and men with business attire for the day.