Executive Director's Statement
Henrico PAL Friends,
First and foremost, we would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors, donors, volunteers, community partners, board members, staff members and police officers for their continuous support. Based on your contributions and commitment, the Henrico Police Athletic League has continued to build positive relationships between Henrico County police officers and the over four thousand youth we serve annually. Secondly, on behalf of the Henrico PAL board, staff, and officers, we would like to thank our parents for once again entrusting us with our community’s most treasured possession. At Henrico PAL, we truly believe that our children are society’s most valued commodity.
As a nonprofit-state licensed-evidence based-youth crime prevention program, Henrico PAL remains committed to exposing our youth to the very best programs and services possible to create a pathway to success. Our core educational curriculums are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Financial Literacy. However, we are excited to announce the unveiling of our new third core curriculum, the “Substance Awareness Program”. This program will focus on educating youth in an age-appropriate manner on the vices associated with opioids, vaping, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and gambling. Currently, these substances and practices are legal in Virginia but are open doors to criminal behavior. These comprehensive programs will equip Henrico PAL youth with the prerequisite knowledge to compete in a global world in the future and ensure their vocational and financial success. During the 2023-24 school year over 50% of our After-School Program students accomplished academic honor roll, over 99% possess a favorable attitude of law enforcement, and over 94% of our Youth Leadership Council Members go on to college, military or trade school.
One of the carryover imperatives from our previous organizational strategic plan is the identification of resources to build a Henrico PAL Youth and Family Education & Recreation Center in the future. As a result of this focus, in August 2023 through the generosity of Henrico County, Henrico PAL took possession of the old Math & Science Innovation Center, located at 2401 Hartman St. The acquisition of this facility is a 10-year lease agreement with the stipulation that Henrico PAL will raise the funding to demolish the current structure and build a new facility. Our new location is situated in the Central Gardens Section of Henrico County and the Fairfield Court Section of Richmond City, which is home to some of the most underserved youth in the Richmond Region. Our new facility will serve as a safe haven for youth and particularly underserved youth for generations while creating opportunities to learn and play in a state-of-the-art facility.
In early 2025, we are scheduled to hire the organization’s first Director of Development to lay the foundation of starting a capital campaign. It will take a communal effort to make the dream of building a new facility a reality. Consequently, we humbly seek your support in becoming an investor in positively changing the life trajectory of the thousands of youth we serve and those youth in the surrounding area.
Therefore if you and/or someone in your orbit is interested in being a difference maker in the lives of Richmond and Henrico County youth and would like to become a partner please email us directly at [email protected] or visit our website at www.henricopal.org and donate to our upcoming capital campaign. To stay updated on the latest news and happenings check us out on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Once again, we sincerely thank you for your support and remember, “Every Kid Needs A PAL”.
Warmest regards,
Sgt. Kenneth L. Ragland (Retired) Executive Director