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Coral Gables PAL
had a Santa of their own who visited and brought cheer to the residents
of West Gables Health Care Center at the center’s annual Christmas party
on December 22, 2007. Carlos Santos, a teen in Coral Gables PAL Youth
Directors’ Program, donned the red suit and white beard. The elders
there at the center were delighted to see him handing out presents.
Jose Flores, executive director of Coral Gables PAL, said
the local Chamber of Commerce told him that the nursing center needed
help with their annual Christmas party. “Our kids really enjoyed
interacting and assisting during the party,” he said. “We will begin to
visit regularly soon.
Playing Santa for the West Gable residents was just one stop
in the pre-holiday schedule for Coral Gables PAL. “At our PAL, we put a
strong emphasis on helping others during the holiday season,” Flores
said. During their toy drive, the PAL kids collected hundreds of toys
for more than two hundred kids and families at the Community Partnership
for the Homeless shelters, and raised more than $4500 for them.
The PAL
kids also worked two days at the Camillus House Soup Kitchen in downtown
Miami.
“We always get great feedback from the PAL kids. They
truly enjoy helping others and are thankful for the things and life that
they have,” Flores said.
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Region 1 is currently in the midst
of starting a new PAL Flag Football League to begin in May. Each
participating PAL will play each other twice followed by a 4 team
playoff in the two divisions 12 U boys and 14 U boys.
Coral Gables:
We recently held our Spring Break Camp. We are currently preparing for
the summer. This year we will have a baseball camp, soccer camp, marine
camp, and a community service camp. We also applied for and received the
National PAL YLC grant and Dunkin Donuts grant.
Florida City:
No Report
Homestead:
Preparing for the summer. Just participated in the Florida PAL
basketball championships.
Key Biscayne:
No report
Key West:
No report
Miami:
Just completed a successful Spring Break Camp. They are still working
with their basketball league, baseball, tutoring and mentoring programs.
Girls 12U just participated in the Fl. PAL basketball Championships.
Miami PAL is aggressively pursuing grants and other funding avenues.
They are also conducting F.C.A.T. tutoring.
Miami Beach:
They just initiated a clear minds program at the middle schools serving
approximately 500 kids. They submitted applications for both YLC and
Dunkin Donuts grants. They will be sending youth the New Orleans and
Ohio this summer for Youth Leadership training. Their PAL is sending a
group of youth to a white water rafting trip this summer to Idaho. They
are conducting a raffle for 1996 Chevy SS once owned by Tom Harris
author of “Hannibal”. Tickets are available for $20.00 a piece. They are
preparing for summer camp, hosting a pitch, hit and run competition on
May 3rd, their girls 10 U team finished 2nd at the
Florida PAL championships, and their cheerleaders competed in two
competitions in Chicago and Coral Springs finishing second in both
competitions.
Miami Dade:
They just participated in a basketball clinic at the University of Miami
with 150 kids on April 19th, conducted their annual DARE walk at Miami
Metro Zoo, and they are preparing for their summer camp which will be at
Mays Middle School this year.
North Bay Village:
They participated in the Bay Harbor Islands 5k race, continuing
basketball program, attended a UM Women’s basketball game, continuing
YDC program, and will attend March of Dimes event on April 26th.
North Miami:
Continuing basketball program, participated in the region basketball
tournament, held a Track & Field event at North Miami, and the YDC
program continues.
Sunny Surf Bal Bay:
They participated in the Hot Shot competition in Orlando, the region
basketball tournament, and are preparing for summer camps.
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