In the heart of the Treasure Coast, there’s a nurturing place for children to learn and grow surrounded by community leaders. The facility first started as a small boxing club for at-risk youth but quickly expanded its role given the area’s needs and the organization’s success. St. Lucie’s Sherriff Police Athletic League, known simply as PAL, is a place of growth and refuge where volunteers help local youth develop their life skills including academics and athletics. Those volunteers include active and retired law enforcement officers.
Inside PAL’s Fort Pierce location, there’s a message displayed prominently on the wall. “Before kids can go places, they need a place to go”. It’s a reminder to us all that investing in our kids’ is paramount to their success, which is why Florida’s technology leader Comcast recently teamed up with PAL.
The two partnered to host a leadership summit led by police officers. The event brought together a group of children from all ages to learn about cyber safety and the social impact of the Internet. The officers taught the boys and girls about how to share information online in a responsible way.
St. Lucie Sheriff Keith Pearson, a social media superstar on platforms like TikTok, made sure to swing by the event. Sheriff Pearson spoke to the children at PAL. He said he’s pleased the nonprofit can provide a safe space to some of the county’s most at-risk youth.
“Most of these kids experience a challenging upbringing and a lot of them live in poverty, in fact we rarely even get to meet their parents or guardians,” said Sheriff Pearson. “We try to foster an environment that gets the kids excited, but also one that helps build their self-esteem and potential. We teach combat sports and other athletic skills they can use when they are not here.”
Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs for Palm Beach County and Florida’s Treasure Coast, Rachael Bonlarron, made a special announcement at the leadership summit. Comcast donated 25 laptops to PAL in hopes of advancing the organization’s ongoing work. The much-needed devices allow the children to easily access the internet to finish school work.
Jarret Romanello is a detective for the Okeechobee Police Department. Romanello, a frequent PAL volunteer, attended the event. He said it’s important to provide this space for children and for them to feel supported by law enforcement.
“Because of the work we do in this and surrounding communities, we know firsthand the conditions in which these kids live and the needs they have,” said Detective Romanello. “Everything we do and offer at PAL is for free and volunteer-based, that’s why the support from companies like Comcast is crucial because it allows us to keep our doors open for the kids.”
PAL is a longtime Comcast partner and one of the company’s 94 Lift Zones across Florida. Lift Zones are free, WiFi-connected spaces, typically located in community spaces. The Lift Zones are powered by Comcast’s state-of-the-art network. They provide high-speed, reliable Internet access to those in those centers to help with career and educational opportunities.
PAL has been proudly serving St. Lucie County since 1995. The nonprofit leaders believe providing a strong support system for children early on in life can trace a path to grow into law-abiding and successful adults.
