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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - L.E.F.T. DonationCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO : FROM: Manuel Orosa Chief of Police o%t? Chief of P oleos Miami, Fla MAY 2 8 2014 ajor Delrish L. Moss $ E C V E Commander PIO/Community Relations Section May 28, 2014 DATE : SUBJECT: Request for Law Enforcement Trust Fund Donation Miami PAL Budget 2014 REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES: FILE : On August 15, 2013, I submitted a request from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (L.E.T.F.) in the amount of $408,169.35 for the Miami Police Athletic League (P.A.L.), Inc. Those monies have not yet been allocated for reasons that are clear. The reason for this second memorandum is to infoiiii you that the program is rapidly running out of funding due to payroll and operating expenses. We currently have just enough funds to get us through the next two to three weeks. In an effort to keep the doors open and to stave off having to lay off employees, I humbly request $347,369.35 until such time as other funds become available to P.A.L. This new amount reflects the reduction of services that we discussed earlier this year. The program is designed to focus on the prevention of juvenile delinquency and steers youngsters clear of violent and other destructive behaviors through the use of educational and athletic activities. This time tested and innovative program was created to foster and encourage a spirit of community, dedication, loyalty, and faith in American traditions and institutions; promotes a spirit of friendship, sociability, good -will, and tolerance amongst the youth; cultivates and improves moral and civic standards; provides an avenue and meeting places where youngsters may enjoy educational and social benefits through athletic, artistic, leadership, and academic activities under competent supervision; and is purposed to prevent and combat violence crime and juvenile delinquency. For more than two decades, Miami P.A.L. has provided after -school, summer academic and athletic programs for more than 1500 youngsters, ages seven through 17 years of age. When the program was foiiiied in 1995, there were twenty-five (25) youth counselors, two (2) fulltiine supervisors and one (1) P.A.L. Coordinator. The annual budget at that time was in excess of $500,000.00 per year. There were eleven (11) PAL sites operating throughout the City of Miami. Participants were taken on field trips to a multitude of venues throughout the community, and they performed a wide variety of community service projects. Presently, Miami PAL employs eight (8) year-round, part-time youth counselors who all convert to full time counselors during the ten (10) weeks of summer, eight (8) seasonal part-time youth counselor aides who are only employed during the ten weeks of summer, one (1) full-time youth counselor supervisor, and one (1) P.A.L. Coordinator. Currently, Miami P.A.L. is operating programs in the following sites: L.E.T.F. Donation Page 2 1. New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church: Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Karate, Baton Twirling, Flag Football, Summer Academic/Athletic Camp, Track and Field, Cheerleading, and the H.A.P.P.Y. (Healthy Alternatives for Positive Promising Youth) Program; a heath initiative program focused on teaching youngsters to make positive nutritional and social choices. The G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program. 2. Coral Gate Park: (District 4) Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Tennis, Flag Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Tee -Ball, Cheerleading, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 3. Curtis Park: (District 1) Football (Miami Youth Xtreme League), Cheerleading, Track and Field, Mentoring, Dance, Basketball, Summer Academic/Athletic Camp, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 4. Williams Park: (District 5) Summer Academic/Athletic Camp Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Homework Club, Flag Football, Basketball, Tee -Ball, Track and Field, Cheerleading, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 5. .Henderson Park: (District 3) Summer Academic/Athletic Camp Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Homework Club, Flag Football, Basketball, Tee -Ball, Track and Field, Cheerleading, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 6. Armbrister Park: (District 2) Summer Academic/Athletic Camp Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Homework Club, Flag Football, Basketball, Tee -Ball, Track and Field, Cheerleading, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 7. The Touching Miami with Love Center: A year-round Instructional Program, Summer Academic/Athletic Camp Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Homework, The G.R.E.A.T Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. 8. Lemon City Library: Homework Club, F-CAT Tutoring, Mentoring, Reading, Flag Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Cheerleading, The G.R.E.A.T. Program, and the H.A.P.P.Y. Program. Miami P.A.L. provides an after -school educational component in several facilities in the City of Miami, where participants engage in homework assistance and tutoring, F-CAT training and preparation, computer assistance, leadership training, mentoring, and community service projects. L.E.T.F. Donation Page 3 In the near future, it is Miami P.A.L.'s goal to initiate programs that include swimming, little league baseball, golf, and double -dutch. The Miami P.A.L. officers work to encourage positive behavior in youngsters as they reiterate the consequences of negative behavior and poor choices. The police officers are dedicated and highly committed to the work of empowering youth with knowledge, the value of positive relationships, dedication, levels of positive initiative, self-discipline, trustworthiness, honesty, self-awareness and determination, and positive decision -making. Miami P.A.L. and the City of Miami Police Department have worked, since their inception, to serve well all of the communities that makeup our very wonderful and diverse youth population by having: 1. Police officers serve as educational and motivational speakers and participate in discussions relating to conflict resolution, anti -bullying, positive self-esteem building, self-determination, and anger management. 2. Police officers provide services to youths through the use of crime prevention literature, crime prevention videos, educational presentations on safety, sporting activities, mentoring, fingerprinting of youth, and other prevention activities depending on the individual needs of the neighborhoods. Miami P.A.L. has grown significantly and expanded services to all communities within the city of Miami yet we continue to struggle to work within the constraints placed on us by the city, county, and state as it relates to the prohibitions against fund raising while on -duty. We also struggle to continue our efforts to prevent crime and decrease the school drop -out rate in Miami. With this being said, our goal is to continue the level of exemplary service to the youth of Miami that has long been our tradition. I am confident that after reviewing our programs and our plans and budget, you will more clearly understand the importance of Miami P.A.L. in the lives of Miami's youngest citizens who are our most vital resource. It is pertinent that we continue to invest in the future of our City through its children. If additional information is needed, please feel free to contact me at (305) 603-6090. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.