DETROIT (WWJ) – In the aftermath of the 1967 riots in Detroit, the Detroit Police and Youth in Sports (PAYS) program was founded as a way to help the city’s youth.
It eventually became the Detroit Police Athletic League, and more than 50 years later, PAL still supports thousands of Detroit area kids – approximately 10,000 a year.
PAL has helped more than 160,000 kids since 2007, according to the organization, which is now housed at The Corner Ballpark, the former site of Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Trumbull in Corktown.
On Monday, Audacy stations WWJ Newsradio 950, 97.1 The Ticket, 99.5 WYCD, 104.3 WOMC and ALT 98.7 will help support the program with the 2nd annual Step Up To The Plate Radiothon, benefitting PAL.
The radiothon runs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a fundraising goal of $100,000 to help the PAL program.
Donations can be made throughout the day by calling 313-880-4PAL or visiting DetroitPAL.org/StepUp.
A $150 donation will allow donors to receive a paver brick engraved with the name of their choice at The Corner Ballpark, while $250 will sponsor a child for a year.
There will be hourly incentives throughout the radiothon, including gift card giveaways and a matching hour.
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PAL Chief Development Officer Monica DeJesus joined WWJ’s Jonathan Carlson live Sunday morning to talk about what PAL means to the community.
“Our main focus has always been sports as a hook, teaching the values for on the field, as well as after the field,” DeJesus said.
PAL teaches those values through the GREAT model, which stands for Goal setting, Resilience, Embracing a healthy lifestyle, Accountability and Teamwork.
PAL has had an estimated 300,000 kids come through the organization, including many who went on to professional sports careers, like Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Brandon Graham and many others who went on to have big careers off the field, like Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, and journalist Jemele Hill.
More information on PAL and the radiothon can be found at https://detroitpal.org/radiothon.
