In 1973 local business and community leaders created Devonshire PALS as a way to help police officers working in the LAPD Devonshire Area (a section of the northwest San Fernando Valley ) to prevent area youth from getting into trouble and entering the juvenile justice system. For more than three decades, Devonshire PALS has impacted the lives of thousands of youth. And the need for our programs is growing greater each year.
Devonshire PALS is a true “partnership in prevention.” The LAPD provides police officers at no charge to PALS to plan the programs and work directly with children ages 6 to 17. Reserve officers and other program volunteers assist the PALS officers in supervising the children and conducting the activities. Thirty local community and business leaders serve on the Devonshire PALS Board of directors. The board members manage the business aspects of the program and volunteer hundreds of hours each month to support PALS and raise the necessary funds for PALS activities, field trips, and supplies. Devonshire PALS is funded entirely at the local level.
We invite you to get involved in Devonshire PALS. Through the hard work of volunteers and the generous financial support of individuals, businesses and foundations we are giving youth a brighter tomorrow.
Victoria Bourdas Martinez
PALS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 2009
