PAL Night at the Sixers 2012

PAL Night at the Sixers- Another Slam Dunk!
PAL celebrated the 26th anniversary of PAL Night at the Sixers on March 27th, 2012. Local radio and television personalities gathered at the Wells Fargo Center to participate in a halftime Celebrity Basketball Game with hoopsters from the PAL Girls Citywide Basketball Program and Commissioner’s Club members, as the Sixers went on to defeat the Cavaliers.

The event was sponsored by the H. Chase and Ana Maria Lenfest Foundation and NECA, Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter / IBEW Local 98. Thanks to their continued support, PAL Night has raised more than $250,000 since the event began 26 years ago.

In addition to the halftime festivities, in a pre-game ceremony, PAL honored 76ers forward Thaddeus Young for his tremendous community efforts and his outstanding support of the Police Athletic League. Other highlights included a Commissioner’s Club and Sponsors reception, an on-court check presentation with PAL event sponsors and a festive evening for all!

Best Buy and Positive Images

Best Buy WOLF Pack at Rizzo Positive Images
Representatives from Best Buy’s Women’s Leadership Forum (WOLF) came to Rizzo PAL’s Positive Images Girls Mentoring meeting on Monday, March 19th. Melody Hollander, Linda Thomas, Lisa Tyson and Diana Santos shared their personal experiences about how they achieved prominent positions in a male-dominated company and industry.

The women inspired the young ladies to taking part in conversations and have their voice heard by “always sitting at the table.” Melody, Linda, Lisa and Diana followed this advice and continue to benefit greatly. They led a networking exercise with Positive Images participants in which each person wrote a list of both short and long-term goals and brainstormed people in their lives who can help achieve them.

PAL Board Member and Best Buy District Manager, Marc Michetti, provided advice to the young ladies on the importance of mentors. The girls’ networks grew by at least five valuable contacts last night, as each WOLF representative and Mr. Michetti left an open invitation for all PAL participants to get in touch with them any time.

A special thanks to Melody, Linda, Lisa, Diana, and Marc Michetti for providing such indispensable information to Rizzo PAL Positive Images!

Cozen Prom Boutique 2012

PAL Ladies Dazzle at the Cozen Prom Boutique

Nancy Roundbehler and Linda Wert with Officer Jennings and a girl from Cozen PAL.

Months of relentless dress and accessory collecting paid off for 160 young ladies from sixteen PAL centers last Thursday night. PAL supporters from Cozen O’Connor, Archbishop Carroll High School, Independence Blue Cross and several other individual donors were able to collect an astounding 983 dresses for this year’s Cozen Prom Boutique!

Getting all made up!

Rizzo PAL alumna, Nancy Rounbehler of Cozen O’Connor, founded the Cozen Prom Boutique four years ago after being asked by a PAL mother to help her daughter find a prom dress. She immediately saw an opportunity to help many girls in the same situation. Nancy partnered with her daughter, Gabrielle, Tanya Brown from Cozen O’Connor and Linda Wert from Archbishop Carroll High School to collect formal and semi-formal wear and create a shopping experience for the young ladies at PAL. The event has grown annually and will even extend to young men next year (get your suits ready)!

IBC Blue Crew Volunteers with Sheila Hess and Lt. Anthony

Volunteers from Archbishop Carroll, Cozen O’Connor, WGirls, Independence Blue Cross and City Year helped the young ladies find a beautiful dress, accessory and pair of shoes for their special night. Makeup artists from Blue Mercury taught the girls how to apply makeup that compliments their dress selection. Each PAL participant received a new makeup and brush kit to bring home.

Special thanks to Nancy, Linda, Tanya and PAL’s committed volunteers for another successful year at the Cozen Prom Boutique!

PAL 24 Math Challenge 2012

24 Math Challenge + PAL x Stradley Ronon = Huge Success

P/O Little with players from Point Breeze PAL

More than 200 youth from all twenty-six PAL centers added, subtracted, divided and multiplied their way to twenty-four in PAL’s annual Stradley Ronon 24 Math Challenge last week. Two regional competitions were held to determine the top twelve players in each grade division- fifth through eighth. The final competition was held at Harrowgate PAL on Wednesday night.

First, second, third and fourth place winners received a plaque and a special gift. All participants in the final competition earned a medal for their stellar performance throughout the Challenge. Congratulations to first place winners Treasure from Steel PAL (5th grade), Forrest from Steel PAL (6th grade), Christina from Steel PAL (7th grade) and Andrew from Point Breeze PAL (8th grade).

Mark Dorval with Jonisha from Bluford PAL

Participants have been practicing the game at their PAL centers for months leading up to this vigorous, head-to-head battle. 24 Math is used as a tool to make learning fun in PAL centers and classrooms around Philadelphia. In the end, playing the game helps youngsters become better at mental math and more confident in their abilities as a student: a great success for all.

PAL thanks Board Member Mark Dorval and Stradley Ronon, and volunteers from Drexel University’s Earle Mack School of Law.

Penn Dental Medicine Night at Southwest PAL

Penn Dental Medicine Students Help PAL Kids Smile Bright

PAL youth receives dental exam

Penn Dental Medicine students made a special trip to Southwest PAL last Monday night. They led a dental hygiene workshop and performed dental exams for thirty-nine PAL youngsters!

PAL youngster learns how to brush

Each participant received a status report card and goodie bag with a brand new toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and information about healthy eating. Penn students spoke to every PAL youngster individually about the importance of dental hygiene and how to brush and floss correctly. Children were able to practice proper brushing habits on friendly dinosaur puppets.

PAL thanks Penn Dental Medicine students for turning this valuable information into a fun night for PAL kids!

Dunkin’ Donuts Rockin’ Reading Celebration at Temple University

Dunkin’ Donuts and Temple Basketball Win Big for PAL

PAL youngster with Temple Cheerleader

The month-long Dunkin’ Donuts Rockin’ Reading Program came to a close with an exciting event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center Wednesday night. Ninety-five PAL youngsters from nine centers participated in the program and read more than 435 books total. One bright youngster from Point Breeze PAL, Ramyi, read thirty-two books since the beginning of the program in January.

Lou from Dunkin' Donuts gives PAL girls special gift with Dr. Jacobi

The celebration at the Liacouras Center began with a reception including special guests from Temple University’s football players, cheerleaders and dance team. PAL cheerleaders taught their routines to the Temple ladies, while the other athletes stressed the importance of studying and keeping good grades in school. Speakers, including PAL Commanding Officer Lt. Anthony, PAL Education Chair, Dr. Jacobi, Dunkin’ Donuts Philadelphia Area Marketing Executives and Olympic Gold Medalist and current Temple University Women’s Rowing Head Coach, Jason Read,recognized the participants for their diligent reading and provided inspiring messages about the importance of reading and education. Each participant even received a certificate of completion and a special gift from Dunkin’ Donuts.

North Penn PAL kid in the Dunkin' Cup Relay

The fun-filled night did not end there for these youngsters. PAL youth and their officers attended the Temple University basketball game against University of Massachusetts. All fans were on the edge of their seats as the Temple Owls emerged victorious in overtime. Lt. Anthony and several children were recognized on-court in front of hundreds of fans during the game. A lucky boy and girl from the North Penn PAL basketball team dressed up in Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cups and competed in a basketball relay race. Fans cheered on both kids in an exciting race to the finish.

PAL thanks Dunkin’ Donuts and Temple University for another great Rockin’ Reading program celebration!

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.