When Mascaro’s President Pat Mascaro Sr. found out the track team had qualified for the prestigious event in previous years but was unable to attend due to financial restrictions, he made a pledge to assist them if they were once again eligible for the competition. After a season of endurance and hard work, the GNPAL found themselves in contention and Mascaro agreed to donate $10,000 to send them running.
“The Greater Norristown Police Athletic League is an admirable organization dedicated to positively motivating our youth. These kids showed commitment and diligence to succeed in, not just their sport, but their everyday life,” Mascaro said. “It would be a shame to not allow them to proceed to the next level that they earned with their hard work and dedication. We are thrilled to be able to support them and hope other local businesses will do the same.”
Mascaro is asking other area businesses to match their donation and help the league prosper in the future. GNPAL is a non-profit, volunteer organization serving the youth and families of the Greater Norristown community with recreational, educational and cultural programs addressing citizenship, self-esteem, avoidance of substance abuse and respect for law and order.
“While most of our youth hail from the Norristown community, our 45 to 50 plus rosters include members from Methacton, Royersford, Pottstown, Montgomeryville, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Wissahickon, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Lower Merion, Upper Darby, Radnor and Philadelphia school districts. This is indicative of the program integrity and the need for this program. We have learned that if we create an outstanding program, children and their parents will flock to us,” GNPAL Director of Operations Kenneth A. Fennal explained. “All team members must maintain a high academic average and are proud to be scholars first.”
The GNPAL Track Team’s mission is to motivate youth to embrace the concept that hard work, tenacity and commitment will yield positive results throughout their transition into adulthood. The team is entering its 10th year of intense track and field training for youth in the Greater Norristown Community, ages 5 to 18 years old.
“We’ve had a full season that consisted of our winter, spring and travel sessions and for ten months we keep the student athletes off the streets, busy and healthy under the direction of our great staff,” said Fennal. “We are grateful that J.P. Mascaro & Sons recognized the validity of our programs and agreed to support our members’ advancement in competition.”
Their travel summer program consisted of 20 student athletes. Seventeen members competed in the local AAU 3 circuit and qualified for the first round of the Junior Olympics to be held at the end of July at Eastern University in Detroit Michigan.
Mascaro is eager to see them tie up their laces and look ahead to not only the ribbon at the end of the race but their expectations of what they can achieve in the years ahead.