US Airways PAL Challenge 2012

18th Annual PAL Challenge

Team Harrowgate

Weeks of studying culminated on May 14th, 2012 at the 2012 US Airways PAL Challenge Finals at Temple University. Teams of sixth, seventh and eighth graders, representing all 26 PAL centers, competed in four regional competitions prior to the final. More than 160 PAL youngsters competed in this distinctive trivia game.

PAL Board Members Bob Ciminelli, Dr. Jacobi and Lt. Anthony with Team Gibbons

PAL Challenge is a hybrid trivia competition and an annual PAL tradition since 1995. In a unique fusion of “Jeopardy” and “Family Feud,” students answer questions from a variety of categories including Science, Math, Sports, Technology, History, and more. Teams spent more than one month studying facts from each category with Homework Club instructors, PAL Officers, and volunteer coaches from PwC.

Congratulations to Gibbons PAL for winning first place this year, and Cozen PAL, Cobbs Creek PAL and Lenfest PAL for also making it to the final four. All PAL Challenge participants received movie tickets for their hard work preparing. Students who competed in the final competition were rewarded with certificates of achievement, medals, plaques and T-shirts.

Bob Ciminelli facing off against Victoria from Gibbons PAL

Team Gibbons played an extra championship match against Vice President of PHL Hub Operations and PAL Board member, Bob Ciminelli, three other executives from US Airways, and PAL Commanding Officer, Lt. Anthony. Though they put up a tough fight, Gibbons PAL was victorious with 245 points. US Airways’ support of the PAL Challenge program helps continue a tradition of unique competition, positive sportsmanship, and the importance of academic achievement. Special thanks to US Airways for their continued support!

PAL Day at City Hall 2012

PAL Youth Take Over Philadelphia City Hall for the Day

In collaboration with the city administration, 26 PAL adolescents spent the day shadowing city officials, giving them the opportunity to learn more about city government. All PAL participants were nominated by their respective PAL officer for excellence and dedication to PAL programs. This rewarding tradition has taken place for more than 40 years.

They day started off with a swearing-in ceremony with inspiring congratulations from District Attorney R. Seth Williams – a former PAL youngster, Mayor Nutter, President of Lockheed Martin Gerard Fasano, PAL Commanding Officer Lt. Bryan Anthony, PAL Chairwoman Sylvia Nisenbaum and Honorary Mayor Erin Dwyer from Tacony PAL. They all urged the crowd to make the most out of the day and to ask questions. City officials were equally excited to be in the presence of Philadelphia’s future leaders. After a reception in the Mayor’s Conversation Room, the honorary City officials and their hosts were off to work for the remainder of the day.

Honorary Mayor Erin Dwyer and Tacony PAL Officer Schneider with Mayor Nutter

Honorary Mayor Dwyer is a 17-year-old senior at Nazareth Academy High School. Erin has been an active member of Tacony PAL for thirteen years, participating in baseball, basketball, flag football, Homework Club, the Tacony PAL Summer Camp, PAL Challenge and 24 Math Competitions. Erin believes that state and local governments play a critical role in the stability of the United States of America. She references crime as the most significant issue facing the city of Philadelphia and is optimistic that 2012 can bring about positive change. “Our City is too important to America’s history, the economy and to the nation as a whole,” she says. “The necessary changes will be difficult, but I believe that in the year 2012, crime can and will be reduced in Philadelphia.” Many of the other PAL participants also believed this to be true. Youth violence in Philadelphia was no doubt, a topic of many conversations throughout the day.

This year’s PAL Day at City Hall is certainly a day participants never forget. PAL thanks Lockheed Martin Corporation, PAL Day at City Hall founder, Sally Berlin, participating City officials and Charming Shoppes, Inc. and Tates Menswear for providing professional attire for all PAL participants.

PAL Night at the 76ers

25th Annual PAL Night at the 76ers Brings Star-Studded Team to NBA Court

PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 1, 2011 – On February 23, 2011, the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia celebrated the 25th anniversary of PAL Night at the Sixers on the hardwoods of the Wells Fargo Center. The evening, which was attended by dozens of Commissioner’s Club Members and 250 PAL youth, also hosted notable civic leaders such as Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers and more than 10 local celebrities. Guests attended a dinner reception in the Wells Fargo Center’s exclusive Hall of Fame Room. During pre-game warm-ups, Commissioner Ramsey, PAL Board Chair Sylvia Nisenbaum, Esq. and
PAL Commanding Officer Lieutenant Bryan Anthony presented Sixers forward Thaddeus Young with an award for his tremendous community efforts and his outstanding support of the Police Athletic League. Young, a 6’8’’ 3-year veteran, has been an avid supporter of PAL ever since he arrived in Philadelphia.

The highlight of the night was PAL’s Media All-Star Basketball Game, a February tradition. This year’s celebrity lineup featured Jericka Duncan and Kharisma McIlwaine of CBS 3 and The CW Philly, Tim Furlong and Harry Hairston of NBC10, Marshall Harris of Comcast SportNet, Walter Perez of 6ABC, Mike Gill of ESPN 97.3, Pat Gallen of PhilliesNation.com and ESPN 97.3, Marisa Magnatta of WMMR’s Preston and Steve Show and Gervase Peterson of Survivor Season One. PAL Board member, H. Chase Lenfest, of the H. Chase and Ana Maria Lenfest Foundation, also participated in the game, along with members of the Lenfest PAL Girls All-Star Basketball Team. The halftime game ended in a blowout, with Lenfest and his red team defeating the blue team 14-5. Lenfest and Jeffrey Scarpello, Esq. of NECA, Penn-Del-Jersey/I.B.E.W. Local 98, sponsored the event, which raised a total of $11,000 for PAL’s youth constituency. The night was capped in a huge win by the surging Sixers and enjoyed by all. Thanks to everyone who took part in making the 25th Annual PAL Night at the Sixers a night to remember.

PAL Alumna Profile

West Oak Lane PAL’s Shining Star: Paulette Brown

Paulette Brown speaking at PAL's Sponsor & Media Luncheon.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 1, 2011 – Paulette Brown has a remarkable, long list of accomplishments for a 28 year old woman. She is a West Oak Lane PAL Alumna, and credits many of her successes to her time at PAL. Through the guidance of her PAL Center Director, Police Officer Steve Brennan, Brown overcame the challenges of growing up in the inner city, and has blossomed into a wonderful human being who is career-driven and motivated in every aspect of her life. She is truly a shining example of the Police Athletic League and the positive impact it has on the children it serves.

Growing up in the West Oak Lane area of the City, Brown was surrounded by many negatives in her childhood. One day while playing her neighborhood, she accidentally wandered into the PAL Center. Thrilled by what she saw, she enrolled in PAL at the age of 12 with her two younger sisters. “There were so many kids playing different types of games, running around, yelling, laughing and just having fun. But the strangest part to me was that there weren’t any adults running and yelling after the kids, telling them to sit down and be quiet. So of course I knew that I was in a good place and I wanted to be involved with whatever they were offering,” Brown said.

Aside from being able to play in a safe environment and meeting new friends, PAL afforded Brown with a handful of unique opportunities that she would never have been able to experience otherwise. “My membership has allowed me the opportunity to travel to various places around the world, like the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado where I participated in a leadership development program. I participated in double-dutch tournaments, basketball leagues and served as City Council President for a day,” said Brown.

Through PAL, Brown was awarded a college scholarship and attended Millersville University, from which she graduated in 2005. She even credits her successes after college to PAL. “Even after graduating college, my PAL experiences are still influencing my life. Where I was shy as I child, I am now very outgoing. The many competitions have taught me how to work well on a team, which is very useful in my work today,” noted Brown.

While looking back on her experiences at PAL, Brown has nothing but fond memories of her friends, experiences and her PAL officer and friend, Police Officer Brennan. “He has always encouraged me to work hard in everything I do. He made sure that I was involved in different activities; he even made sure that I got home safely after the center would close. Since I was 12, he has gone above and beyond the duties of his job. He has been there for every birthday, every holiday, every prom, every speech and every graduation – even calling just to check on me,” said Brown.

Today, Brown works in Human Resources and is constantly meeting and interacting with new people. She is back in school at Rosemont College, working on obtaining a Master’s Degree in Psychology. Without PAL, Brown notes that she doesn’t know where she’d be today. “There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better person today because of all the life lessons that I learned at PAL. It’s hard to even imagine my life without PAL. Of all the things that I want to know in this world, of all the things I pretend to know, I’m glad I don’t know where I would be without PAL since it has been such an influential part of my life. I know that I am a better person because of PAL. I know other former PAL kids who would say the same thing.”