Mayor Jorge Elorza today joined members of the Providence Police Department, the Providence After School Alliance (PASA), IGT (formerly GTECH), and the Providence School Department to kick-off the Police After School Sports (PASS) program, where off-duty Providence Police Officers will coach Basketball and Flag Football teams for middle school students throughout the city.
“This program provides children with an opportunity to stay active after school and allows them to build important relationships with our police officers,” said Mayor Elorza. “I thank the Providence After Schools Alliance, IGT and Bob Vincent, for making Police After School Sports possible.”
The PASS program will provide fun and engaging after school sports activities for 260 Providence middle school youth. With a $40,000 gift from IGT, the PASS program will have 10 Student Resource Officers (SROs) who have signed on from the Police Department to coach basketball and flag football.
“IGT is pleased to invest in a unique partnership where Providence Police Department officers build relationships with young people through recreational activities in the critical after school hours,” said Bob Vincent, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Public Affairs for IGT. “Our company is proud to be located in a city where the Mayor, Police Department, Schools, and Providence After School Alliance are all focused on changing the lives of youth.”
The PASS program will be offered at Nathan Bishop, DelSesto, Esek Hopkins, Gilbert Stuart, and Roger Williams’ Middle Schools, through PASA’s AfterZone.
“The Providence After School Alliance is all about building lasting partnership between the City’s youth and the amazing adults in our community who want to change the trajectory of our young people,” said PASA Executive Director Hillary Salmons. “Congratulations and thanks to IGT and the Providence Police Department for wanting to be part of the AfterZone team of over 70 high quality organizations that are all working together to be sure Providence students are great team players, effective communicators, problem solvers, and contributing future citizens.”
This year, PASA will serve 2,000 students by providing them the AfterZone – an after school system with a mix of sports, arts, and hands-on learning – that motivates youth to come to school, stay focused, and be team players.