Who We Are
The San Mateo Police Activities League (PAL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering positive relationships between police officers and youth. Founded in 1997 through a partnership with the San Mateo Police Department and the San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department, PAL aims to keep young people engaged in positive activities, stay in school, and avoid harmful influences such as drugs, gangs, and other risky behaviors.
PAL offers free membership to all youth aged 5 to 18 who live or attend school in San Mateo. With a commitment to inclusivity, PAL ensures its programs are accessible and affordable, particularly for youth from vulnerable neighborhoods. Each year, PAL serves over a thousand young people and their families through a variety of recreational and enrichment activities and mental health and human services.
Mission
To "Build the Bond between Cops and Kids" in collaboration with our community partners, San Mateo PAL strives to create a safer society while promoting the physical, social and psychological development of our youth.
Vision
By fostering positive interactions and developing relationships between police officers and youth, along with providing essential services and enrichment activities, we strive to keep kids on track, in school, and away from harmful and troubling behaviors to improve the lives of local youth to create a more robust and safer community.
What We Do
San Mateo PAL provides a variety of supervised recreational, social, and educational activities for San Mateo youth and their families.
Mentorship
We build mentorship relationships between police professionals and young people to help them navigate adverse life circumstances, mental health issues and potentially at-risk behaviors.
School Resource Officers
Our School Resource Officers, also known as SRO's, are assigned to San Mateo public middle schools and high schools. School Resource Officers are police officers, as well as educators, mentors and safety advocates.
Opportunities
We help "level the playing field" for at-risk youth by providing them with access to a wide range of activities and educational enrichment opportunities.
Watch PAL In Action
