Honoring the Tacony PAL Center and Police Officer Bill Schneider.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Police Officer Bill Schneider, a ten year member of the force and director of the Tacony Police Athletic League Center accepted the honor of having his center named PAL Center of the Year; and

WHEREAS, This honor was due to Officer Schneider’s successful youth recruiting efforts, his creation of activities for special needs children, his support of other PAL officers and centers, as well as his knowledge, loyalty and caring nature for the youth of the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Officer Bill, as he is known around PAL, can trace his hard work and dedication to the values instilled at a young age by his parents, Bill and Joan; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his participation at Tacony PAL as a kid, Officer Bill is a lifelong parishioner of Saint Bernard School, leading the varsity boys basketball team to the state championship in 1981. He later graduated Father Judge High School and Community College of Philadelphia with a degree in drug counseling; and

WHEREAS, Bill became a Philadelphia Police Officer in 1996. Soon thereafter, recognizing his unique talent in helping kids, Lieutenant Susan Slawson appointed Officer Bill to be the director of Point Breeze PAL in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Since transferring to the Tacony PAL Center which operates out of St. Bernard School, Officer Schneider, in his quest to give back to his community and his mentor, retired PAL Officer Jerry Hartman, has signed up over 400 new kids for its programs, bringing the total number of youths it serves to 1,600; and

WHEREAS, The Tacony PAL Center not only involves the local youth in sports, but it also provides a homework club, arts and crafts, dance instructions, computer training, field trips and scholarship opportunities; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and extend our best wishes and thanks to PAL Officer Bill Schneider for giving the kids of the Tacony PAL a chance to succeed and prosper like he did as a PAL kid.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to PAL Officer Bill Schneider. We wish him continued success in all PAL endeavors.

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