About California PAL

The California Police Activities League (PAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded over 35 years ago by a group of police officers, spearheaded by a San Francisco Police Detective, Charles Ellis.

These dedicated police officers and sheriffs deputies from various cities and counties throughout the state would meet together twice a year to share ideas, information and procedures from their local PAL chapters and to promote the California PAL concept.

Starting in 1991, California PAL expanded its mission to engage youth by bringing together youth teams from local member PAL's throughout the state by holding its first annual California PAL Basketball Tournament. Building on that successful event, California PAL continues to serve youth from many backgrounds and locationsthroughout the state. There are small town PALs as well as those PALsin the heart of California's largest cities. PAL provides programs forall ages ranging from five to eighteen. Although not all citiesare fortunate to have a PAL, many California PAL members are able toservice their surrounding communities as well as their own. California PAL holds many different types of boys & girls youth sporting events along with many other enriching youth educational activities that are conducted in a safe, supervised environment. California PAL events are held at various locations throughout the state giving youth the opportunity to visit new places and broaden their horizons.

The California PAL office is located in San Leandro, California. As a working collaboration of staff, Board of Directors, and memberchapters, California PAL provides services and support to over 100 local Police, Sheriff's, and Youth Activity Leagues from throughout the State of California.

California PAL has also made a concerted effort to provide high-tech tools for its local PAL members to communicate, exchange ideas, and manage their PAL chapters more effectively. These efforts have also expanded to in providing youth with the opportunity to gain essential technology based training and skills for the 21st century workplace.

From its humble beginnings, California PAL has grown into an organization that makes a positive difference in the youth of California and strives to continue making a strong contribution in reducing juvenile crime and creating a safer environment within the State of California.

What is California PAL's Mission?

The mission of California PAL is uniting law enforcement and communities by providing youth programs which develop discipline, positive self-image, mutual trust and respect.

What is California PAL's Goal?

California PAL's primary goal is to assist police and sheriff's departments in establishing and developing PAL chapters in every community in California; thereby ensuring that all California youth have the opportunity to participate in California PAL programs. California PAL is well on its way to achieving our goal as we are California's largest juvenile crime prevention program with the active participation of over 300,000 youth.