Buffalo, N.Y. – Mayor Byron W. Brown, joined by representatives of the Police Athletic League of Buffalo (PAL), extended an official invitation today to Buffalo area residents and business owners to attend and support the 18th Annual PAL Auction, featuring special guest Olympic Gold & World Champion Medalist Steve Mesler. The Buffalo PAL Auction is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 5:30 pm to 9 pm at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now at buffalopal.com at $50 per individual. There will be raffle prizes, silent and live auction items including a 7 night stay in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, a week vacation in Davenport, Florida, upscale dining experiences at premier Western New York restaurants, Spa treatments, Buffalo Bills and Sabres tickets, US Open tickets, sports memorabilia, electronic items including a Google Home virtual assistant, Apple Watch and Beats by Dre.
“I invite everyone to come out to support PAL and welcome Olympic Gold Medal winner Steve Mesler back to his hometown,” said Mayor Brown. “Steve shares my commitment to ensuring that our youth succeed and I know he will be an inspirational guest speaker at the auction. I thank him for generously donating his time to help the children who benefit from Buffalo PAL’s quality programming.”
For over sixty years, the Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. has offered quality youth enrichment programming at little or no cost to families comprised of diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Buffalo PAL currently serves over 20,000 children annually with after-school, weekend, and summer programs that operate throughout the year in six inner city Community Centers, seventeen Buffalo Public Schools, and the historic Buffalo-Olmsted Parks.
“This is the premier fundraiser of the year for the Police Athletic League of Buffalo’s Youth Enrichment Programming,” said PAL Executive Director Nekia Kemp. “Our organization is elated to invite all Western New Yorkers to attend the 18th Annual PAL Auction.”
Steve Mesler is excited to return to his hometown to serve as Keynote Speaker at the 18th Annual PAL Auction. A 1996 graduate of City Honors High School, Mesler grew up in the City of Buffalo and was instrumental in leading the 2010 American 4-man Olympic Bobsled Team to win the USA’s first Gold Medal in 62 years at the 2010 Vancouver, BC Winter Olympic Games. He currently presides as the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Classroom Champions; an award winning Global not-for-profit organization that helps thousands of students improve their academic, social, and emotional skill sets during the school year by teaming them up with mentors who are Olympians, Paralympians, college athletes, and NFL football players, including members of the Buffalo Bills.
“I’m honored to come home and support the great work PAL is doing to ensure all kids in Buffalo have the same opportunities I had,” said Olympic champion Steve Mesler. “When kids are given the opportunity to participate in sports they learn how to work together regardless of their differences, how to accomplish a goal, and how to get back up when they’re down in a safe environment that encourages them to fail. I was lucky enough to learn those skills growing up in Buffalo and they’ve stuck with me through Olympic gold and my current work today to bring those skills to schools.”
The Buffalo PAL is a unique not-for-profit agency due to its partnership with local law enforcement. The Buffalo Police are especially instrumental in working closely with PAL youth to teach them about the importance of exhibiting pride, attitude, and leadership. PAL’s overall mission is to incentivize our region’s youth to become successful, responsible, goal-oriented adults. The Buffalo PAL continues to offer educational programming comprised of literacy, STEM, culinary arts, and nutrition. PAL youth also enjoy participating in boxing, basketball, swimming, tennis, golf, baseball, lacrosse, floor Hockey, and flag football. Summer activities at the Buffalo PAL range from academic camps to arts & crafts, field trips, bicycle safety, free bike helmet giveaways, and Mayor Byron W. Brown’s Summer Reading Rules Challenge! and Awards Ceremony.
Tickets for the 18th Annual PAL Auction are on sale now at buffalopal.com and the cost is $50 per individual. If you would like to learn about how you can help support the Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. or enroll your child in PAL after-school or weekend programming, please call 716-851-4619 or email: policeathleticleague@city-buffalo.com. You can also visit buffalopal.com for program updates, in addition to following the Buffalo PAL on Facebook and Twitter. Inquiries about the Buffalo PAL can be mailed to: 65 Niagara Square, 21st floor, Buffalo, New York, 14202.