Who We Are
The San Mateo Police Activities League (PAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building positive relationships between law enforcement and the youth they serve. Established in 1997 through a partnership between the San Mateo Police Department and the San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department, PAL provides safe, supportive programs that empower young people to stay engaged in school, make positive choices, and avoid negative influences such as gangs, drugs, and other high-risk behaviors.
PAL offers free membership to all youth ages 5 to 18 who live in or attend school in San Mateo. Committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, PAL provides accessible, high-quality recreational, educational, mental health, and family support services, with a special focus on reaching youth in underserved and vulnerable communities. Each year, PAL positively impacts the lives of more than 1,000 young people and their families through programs that promote academic success, personal growth, health and wellness, and strong community connections.
Mission
Our mission is to build the bond between cops and kids by fostering positive relationships founded on trust, respect, and mentorship. In collaboration with our community partners, the San Mateo Police Activities League (PAL) is committed to creating a safer community while promoting the physical, social, emotional, and psychological development of our youth.
Vision
Our vision is to foster a safer, healthier community by providing affordable or free youth development programs and family support services. We focus on enhancing the physical, social, and mental well-being of San Mateo youth, encouraging academic success, self-esteem, community involvement, and healthy futures for all.
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.
Youth Services Officers
Our Youth Services 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
