Baseball can be an expensive sport for kids and parents, but thanks to a generous donation from the Suffolk County Police Athletic League (PAL), it will be significantly more affordable for children in Brentwood this season.
PAL recently donated $5,000 worth of equipment to a local youth baseball program, including catcher’s gear, batting tees, gloves, bats and other essentials. Suffolk County Police Deputy Commissioner Belinda Groneman, Chief of Department William Doherty, and PAL officers marked the occasion with a visit to the NYS Parks Sports Complex, where they spent time playing catch with young athletes in the program.
Tom O’Hara, who runs the Brentwood league, said the donation will have an immediate impact. Children in T-Ball, as well as 8-and-under and 12-and-under divisions, will see a reduction in league dues, making the sport more accessible to local families.
The Suffolk County Police Athletic League is one of the largest youth development organizations in the region, serving more than 20,000 children through sports, mentoring and community programs. In addition to athletics, PAL offers one-on-one mentoring initiatives aimed at reducing drug and alcohol use, improving school attendance and building self-esteem among at-risk youth.
Programs such as the PAL REACH-OUT initiative help young people develop resistance to gang involvement, bullying and violence, while specialized programs provide opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in sports and recreation.
By connecting police officers with young people in positive settings like the ballfield, PAL fosters trust, teamwork and community engagement—an investment in both the future of local youth and safer neighborhoods.