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About PAL

Cobb Police Athletic League (PAL) is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people ages 4-18. Cobb PAL focuses on juvenile crime prevention through mentorships, and recreational activities for youth in Cobb County.

Through various athletic and recreational activities these youth are surrounded with the positive influences of adults, police officers, and volunteers in a controlled, supervised environment. The PAL program helps expand public awareness about the role of a police officer and instills basic principles of good decision making, critical thinking and respect for others.

The Cobb PAL organization is a great example of providing a positive environment for youth to interact with police. Cobb PAL specifically encourages children who have never had the opportunity to participate in organized sports due to an inability to pay the associated costs. Police officers serve as coaches and mentor the children and in the first season alone, logged over 500 volunteer hours.

Since the programs’ inception in 2011, Cobb PAL has grown substantially due to the overwhelming support of the community. As of 2020, PAL operates 4 full-time programs (Track & Field, Martial Arts, STEP, and mentoring) and 4 part-time programs (Midnight Basketball, Baseball, Soccer and Football camps). Collectively, through these programs we have impacted the lives of approximately 6,500 youth in eight years.

In the spring of 2011, the Cobb PAL Track Team competed in its first track season with 75 children (ages 6-14 years old) from the South Cobb area. In 2012, the Cobb PAL Track Team served 110 children, a 46% increase from 2011. In 2013, the Cobb PAL Track Team served 115 children. The PAL track team has continued to grow and participated in its first ever USATF National Track Meet in July 2015. We placed in the top 20 at Nationals in nine events. Today we have developed over 20 All-Americans.

The cornerstone of the track program is mandatory parent involvement. Parents of Cobb PAL kids also serve as volunteers, assisting at meets and practices. As a result of this law enforcement and community collaborative effort, the youth involved in the program see the police in a setting that fosters trust and demonstrates to the community the police department’s commitment to serving citizens.

Cobb PAL hosts a football camp and baseball camp for kids from the South Cobb area annually. This program includes teaching skills/fundamentals, improving fitness and the opportunity for the kids to show off what they have learned for parents on the last day of camp.

Cobb PAL is continuing to grow, and we are working toward expanding the program to different parts of the county and hope to soon offer more sports. Cobb PAL seeks financial support through grants and donations.

 

 

 

Partnerships

 

                                                                                    

For more information about supporting PAL contact cobbpal@cobbcounty.org or call 770-499-3912.

Force Media Coverage: Smoke N' Guns 2019

Smoke N’ Guns is a charity boxing event where Police Officers and Firefighters compete to decide who are the best fighters in Cobb County. Watch our recap video to find out who won!