The Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League is very excited to announce the opening of a Fitness Center in Du Bois! The WPAL could not be more optimistic about the positive impact this gym will have on the local community. This gym will be 100% free to everyone under the age of 18 and anyone currently attending high school. The Police Athletic League (PAL) is an organization in many communitie
s nationwide in which volunteers(police officers, coaches, teachers or other community members) help young people, both boys and girls, in sports, with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community relations, and keep children off illegal drugs. Most PAL programs now call themselves "Police Activities Leagues" because many of the programs are now focused on youth enrichment, educational and youth leadership programs and not just sports. The program generally solicits funds, equipment, and volunteer help from members of the community, so that the cost to taxpayers is small while the returns are great. Participants in the League's activities are supposedly much less likely to engage in crime, far more likely to praise the character of the police force, and discourage their friends from either committing crimes or covering up criminal activity. Police Athletic League programs usually have a competitive component. Although the vast majority of the League's contests are with other youths in the same city, there are regularly scheduled national contests between teams in different parts of the country. For many of the young people who participate, it is their first chance to travel to where the contests are held. The Police Athletic League provides participation in many sports. These include Soccer, Basketball, Football, and many other sports throughout the U.S. PAL has been working hard in the communities of Western Pennsylvania spreading the message “Always for the Kids” by promoting positive interactions between kids of all ages and local law enforcement officials. The WPAL has been around for 25 years and diligently working to reach out to new communities. The Director and Founder of the WPAL, James M. Cvetic, expressed his satisfaction by saying “I am very pleased that the WPAL was able to work with local city officials in DuBois, PA. It is an area where we have not yet been able to reach. Now with the help of Aaron Beatty and Scott Brigger that is now possible.” The WPAL encourages local law enforcement officials to work out in their gyms (free of charge) with the kids from the area and to interact with them on larger scale events such as the “Golden Gloves Championships.” The purpose of the event can be found in the words of Mr. Cvetic, “We have seen bonds form and understanding widen. It is truly a great cause that the WPAL spends a lot of time cultivating in order to help build Western Pennsylvania’s communities.”
