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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
CELEBRATES BROOKLYN
RECIPIENTS OF PAL ROBERT J. MCGUIRE SCHOLARSHIPS
On May 27, 2021, the Police Athletic League held a virtual ceremony to celebrate the recipients of the Robert J. McGuire Scholarships including Brooklyn residents. PAL Board member Robert J. McGuire addressed the students, and PAL mentors presented the scholarships to 14 PAL students.
Robert J. McGuire Scholarship recipients from Brooklyn included: Cianna Benjamin, 17, PAL Acting Program; Kareem Browne, 17, PAL Acting Program; Cliff Cadet, 17, PAL Acting Program; Jade Rivers, 18, PAL Acting Program; Kaya Sandiford, 17, PAL Acting Program, and Tionne Watson, 18, PAL Acting Program.
Many of the young people who participate in PAL programs look forward to higher educational opportunities. The Robert J. McGuire Scholarships are offered to PAL student-members entering their first year of college. The 15th annual awards ceremony highlighted their goals, achievements, hopes and dreams and applauded their efforts. A total of 14 students from PAL centers citywide were recognized. Introduced by their PAL mentors and role models, these scholarship recipients spoke eloquently about their personal experiences and the impact the awards will have on their futures.
“The PAL Robert J. McGuire Scholarship is funded by PAL supporter Fred Wilpon. Mr. McGuire, who is currently a Co-Chair on the PAL Board of Trustees, has served PAL since 1978. His long standing commitment to public service includes service as a United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as Police Commissioner for the City of New York,” said Dana Wheeler, PAL Director of Education and Program Development. “We are proud to honor Mr. McGuire and deeply appreciative of Mr. Wilpon’s generosity in this 15th year of the scholarship. We are grateful to Mr. McGuire for his steadfast and loyal support to our PAL children.”
The scholarship funds, awarded at $2,000 per student, provide the young winners with a monetary gift from PAL to help defray the expenses of their freshman year in college. Eligible applicants must have participated in PAL programs for a minimum of one full year and provide proof of college admission and attendance.
A Welcome by Dana Wheeler, PAL Director of Education and Program Development, was followed by Greetings and Congratulations from Lisa Weir, PAL Director of Finance, and Scholarship Presentations by Theodore Allen, PAL Director of Teen Programming. Members of the PAL scholarship committee also included: Christine Bove, Manager of Individual Giving; Stephanie Chen, Grants and Contracts Manager; Miranda Hardy, Manager of Corporate Giving; Jennifer King, PAL Champion; Marie Lopez, Education Specialist and Seth Pamperin, Education Program Manager.
New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for over 100 years. PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 20,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.
Photo Caption:
Brooklyn PAL Winners of the Robert J. McGuire Scholarship include:
Cianna Benjamin, 17, PAL Acting Program; Kareem Browne, 17, PAL Acting Program; Cliff Cadet, 17, PAL Acting Program; Jade Rivers, 18, PAL Acting Program; Kaya Sandiford, 17, PAL Acting Program, and Tionne Watson, 18, PAL Acting Program.
Photos Courtesy of Police Athletic League