Four hundred PAL youngsters, from all five boroughs of New York City, competed in city-wide tournaments during a fun-filled day of educational games and laughter at the Police Athletic League’s (PAL) Annual Tournament of Champions event at PAL’s Edward Bryne Center in South Jamaica, Queens on Feb. 23.
Champions, six to 18 years old, from PAL’s Edward Bryne Center, PAL’s Far Rockaway Beacon and Redfern Cornerstone in Arverne-Far Rockaway and PS 214 in Flushing challenged their peers from PAL centers across the city in checkers, football, ping pong, Trouble, UNO, Mancala, a Spelling Bee, a Math Bowl, Fitness Challenge and basketball.
The Tournament of Champions is an annual PAL event, fostering better understanding and relationships by bringing together boys and girls of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. PAL encourages youngsters to develop athletic and educational skills, and the sportsmanship qualities of discipline, fair play and healthy competition.
New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first, largest and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for 97 years.
PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to over 56,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent and nonprofit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.
