when the police athletic league was founded in 2001 as a free safe place to foster Pinellas at-risk youth through team sports summer camps and various activities and events athletic was an appropriate term from basketball tennis soccer and football to boxing martial arts dodgeball and yoga its original program has expanded immeasurably thanks in large part to generous donations from the private sector this year alone pal has put in a new recreational field built a canopy over its outdoor playground and improved its basketball court facilities Connie clements eight-year-old son Lemieux has been coming to Powell for two years and she said the difference is clear he seems to be more outgoing and I think his grades have been improving and also he's a lot better at sports now in fact lamese time at pal has benefited them both for me it has helped me out a lot because I go to school so it gives me more time to study and do my homework so it's been helpful very helpful despite these benefits it's the organization's tremendous advancement into the academic and mentorship fields that is reshaped pal this year Pal has not only purchased two on-site portable classrooms fully equipped with desks computers and more it's hired two teachers who work daily with students to complete their homework assignments tutor them in struggle areas and provide them with additional projects to continue challenging their minds outside of school eleven-year-old kanaya Clarkson has been coming to pal for only a month and she's proud of the improvement she's already recognized they helped me with all my work to get better grade I'm a on a roll cuz of them through these advancements today the Police Athletic League is truly redefining what it means to pal around when i started at pow pow was more of a hangout drop in recreation right so pallet coming to powell appalling around meant just hanging out and we just thought we could do better for the kids so now piling around means you're going to come you're going to get some academic help you're going to get fed and you're going to have some fun but just hanging out is no longer on part of the options right you have fun but you're going to have something productive to me pollen around is more than being having fun it's about your education and learning more things that you need to learn Darrell black has been coming to pal for a year and a half and at 16 years old he earned his first job working at one of pals summer camps he's taught me how to work in the summer my first job here ever and I didn't know what to do exactly for my first job and they mentor me through it that's what the money I earned in the summer on clothes and shoes and things I need it for school and I still have money left over for shoes and clothes I need from next year Pal is a 501 c 3 charitable organization that relies on donations and key community partnerships to provide ongoing secure and motivating environments for the more than 150 students who path around all week long how's a nice place it just needs more people to help them so for your support we say thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you come paddle around with us you