Stanislaus PAL goes far beyond kid gloves approach

For decades, the name Police Athletic League conjured up visions of young boys learning to box under the watchful eyes of cops who became father figures.

Started in New York in 1910 by a police captain who recognized the need to offer children positive activities that also would enable them to develop trust of and a rapport with law enforcement, the police athletic league concept spread to virtually every major metropolitan area in the nation and enjoyed successes.

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Indeed, fighters including Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson, Vito Antuofermo and many others came through the PAL ranks to become world champions, while other champions including Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Leonard went on to became big supporters of PAL boxing programs across the nation.

But while PAL boxing is still a fixture in Stanislaus County and Modesto, led by longtime coach Louis Jordan, it is only one of the many sports and activities the Stanislaus County Police Activities League. In fact, many PALs have replaced “athletic” with “activities” in their official titles to emphasize their broader-brush approach.

The Stanislaus County PAL reaches anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 children per month, providing after-school programs at more than 30 elementary and middle school campuses around the county, from Modesto to Keyes to Grayson, Patterson, Westley, Westview Gardens Community Center in the Robertson Road area and Oakdale.

Stanislaus PAL runs a swimming program at the Regional Water Safety Traning Center in Empire. It offers soccer and flag football in the fall, basketball in the winter and martial arts all year long. Kids in Keyes can play in the Junior Giants Baseball League. Around the county, it sponsors Cub Scouts activities.

“We have 165 to 170 paid employees, which makes us the second-largest Police Activities League in California,” said Bret Silveira, Stanislaus PAL’s deputy director.

Scores of volunteers work with the children on everything from computer skills to arts and crafts at parks in Keyes, Grayson and in Modesto’s Airport Neighborhood. Volunteerism helps keep the costs down.

It’s all about making a difference in kids’ lives by taking a personal interest and providing activities they can enjoy in safe environments.

Alex Greener, a 9-year-old from Keyes, said he lives in the neighborhood near the Keyes Community Center and takes in PAL activities a couple of times each week.

Melanie Agredano, 14, travels from Modesto to Keyes three days a week for martial arts instruction and gets much more.

“If you don’t understand something, they comprehend your problems and help you get it,” she said.

It’s all part of building relationships and character and giving children opportunities to grow their confidence. Today’s Police Activities Leagues are no longer limited to gloves, headgear and mouthpieces.

That stereotype no longer rings true.

This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 5:56 AM with the headline "Stanislaus PAL goes far beyond kid gloves approach."