PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Police Athletic League (PAL) Center will get a big makeover Saturday thanks to about 150 volunteers from Honeywell International.
Honeywell is partnering with the Christmas in October organization to make repairs to the PAL Center at 1801 White Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24. They will repair restrooms, build a concession stand, landscape and improve drainage, make the steps more visible and add railings.
“These repairs are much-needed, and we really appreciate all the people from Honeywell who are coming out to make them,” said Capt. Rex Tarwater, commander of KCPD’s Youth Services Unit.
The PAL Center was constructed in 1960 for the St. Paul School of Theology. The School later sold it to the City, which used it as a community center. When police leased the building in the late 1990s, it was vacant and about to be demolished. PAL raised donations to repair the roof, gym floor and some other items, but a lot of work still remains.
The mission of PAL is to offer youth the opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive setting while participating in cultural, mentoring and sports programs, with the main emphasis placed on academics. At the 1801 White PAL Center, inner-city children participate in everything from tutoring to basketball to boxing to computer classes, all for little to no cost. PAL is a nonprofit organization supervised by KCPD officers.
Honeywell volunteers are part of the company’s community outreach initiative, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. Hometown Solutions focuses on four societal needs that align with Honeywell’s heritage: Family Safety and Security; Housing and Shelter; Science and Math Education, and Habitat and Conservation.
