Unity Days / BHA

About the program

The Boston Police Athletic League is an official member of the National Association of Police Athletic Leagues, a national network founded more than 70 years ago. Incorporated in 1985, Boston PAL was founded by Gerald Ridge, and was organized by members of the Boston Police Department and other concerned citizens as a community crime prevention resource and was the first police athletic league in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Police Athletic League currently is one of the largest independent youth serving agencies in the City of Boston.

The Police Athletic League is a strong, local organization with the resources and credibility to bring focus and attention to the youth development field and to connect young people in low-income neighborhoods with responsible adults in school and during their out-of-school time. The overall goal of PAL's programming is to involve youth in meaningful activities that will counter some of the negative forces in their lives and give them greater opportunities for future success. PAL strengthens the relationship between police officers and youth in the neighborhoods of Boston by providing opportunities for them to participate together in recreational, cultural, social, and educational activities. back to top