November 2021

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Connecting Cops, Kids and Community

Our Mission


The Police Athletic League of Kansas City, KS is a community-based non-profit located in the urban core of Kansas City, KS. We provide a safe, supportive environment for youth ages 18 and under to engage in constructive, positive ways with police officers, other members of the community, and each other. Our goal is to connect cops, kids and community.

Two Kansas City, KS police officers are assigned full time to the PAL. They interact daily with the youth attending and develop personal, first name relationships with these youth. Since our doors opened in February 2019, 607 youth have made over 8500 visits to the PAL for over 18,000 hours. 68% are male, 73% Hispanic, 16% Black.


 These youth:

  • Participate in boxing and physical training Monday through Thursday evenings
  • Take art classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays
  • Get hands-on experience in organic gardening, raising chickens, beekeeping and honey production in the PAL Community Garden
  • Interact daily in positive ways with police officers, other community volunteers, and their peers
  • Are mentored by and have close relationships with police officers
  • Learn to trust those in positions of authority
  • Enhance their health and decrease social isolation
  • Build resilience and develop social resources
  • Have a safe place at the PAL
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All PAL programs and services are free of charge. We receive support from the Kansas City, KS Police Department and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, but we rely primarily on community support through individual and business donations, grants and foundation funding. The Police Atheltic League of KCKS, Inc, is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) and contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

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Program Highlight: Driver's Ed Classes



PAL has started its own in-house driver’s education program. This is a unique, cutting edge program that brings together police officers and youth to reach a concrete, tangible goal of getting a driver’s license. 


Many youth in Kansas City, KS who qualify for a learner’s permit or driver’s license fail to get one but drive nonetheless. This is due to a variety of reasons: lack of knowledge about Kansas law, intimidation and fear about engaging with the government bureaucracy, misunderstanding about the proper documents needed, cost. Youth who do not have a license or permit, if they are stopped or involved in an accident, are subject to citations, fines or worse consequences and enter the law enforcement and judicial systems. This is often their first encounter with law enforcement and the legal system and it is a negative one. 


PAL is turning what could be a negative experience with law enforcement into a positive relationship with police officers. Officer Joey Reyes has been certified as a driver’s education instructor and PAL has been licensed by the State of Kansas as a driver’s education school. PAL will provide 9 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of driving time, as well as assistance in gathering the necessary documents, and walking the youth through the process. All this will be provided at no cost to participants.  


For more information about enrolling in the program contact Officer Reyes at jreyes@palkck.com.  






Letter from our Board Chair


As President of the Board, it is an honor to lead, along with Executive Director Matt Tomasic, the Police Athletic League of KCKS. In 2017, Matt brought together several of us to share his vision of connecting cops, kids and community in Kansas City, KS, and a new Police Athletic League was born.  Since we opened our doors in February 2019, 607 youth have visited the PAL, 380 in 2021 alone.  We obviously are meeting a need.


The PAL relies on individual and business contributions, grants and foundation funding for 85% of our budget.  Please consider a donation to help us continue our good work for the youth of our community.


Stephen Charbonneau

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Police Athletic League of KCKS


800 N. 5th Street

Kansas City, KS 66101

jfendorf@palkck.com

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