The PAL is a nonprofit organization funded by members of the community through donations.

The outing is in its third year as a joint event with East Lansing and Lansing members, but has been an annual event for more than 40 years.

PAL is a unique program that benefits children and young adults by providing recreational and educational activities in local neighborhoods, said Michelle Bryant, Lansing PAL president and a detective with the Lansing Police Department.

The program provides sport camps and clinics throughout the summer, as well as other activities that might benefit children’s futures, such as visits to local campuses, she said.

“(The league has) done a number of things with MSU, like go see the band practice — teaching them and giving them the opportunity to just see some of the stuff out there that they would otherwise not ever have any idea existed,” Bryant said.

Participating in the fundraiser and showing support for the PAL is a no-brainer because the organization is essential to the communities’ children, said MSU assistant football coach Mark Staten, who attended the event.

“(The program is) very important because it gives young people (and) people as a whole community an opportunity to be a part of something bigger,” Staten said. “Any time we can give back as coaches in our profession, it’s a time we will give back. That’s why it is so important, because they’re doing the right things in the right end in everywhere, and we just want to get out and show our support in such a special program.”

The league is expanding horizons for the participants by immersing the kids in local activities, which isn’t limited to athletics, said Heidi Williams, an East Lansing Police Department 911 call center supervisor, a vice president of the East Lansing PAL and coordinator of the golf outing.

“What we’ve done with the Police Athletic League is that we’ve focused on educational, recreational (and) cultural (opportunities),” Williams said. “We’ve kinda hit other things than sports, for maybe the kids who aren’t as athletically inclined or interested in sports.”

Community service projects such as the river cleanup or helping pick up garbage in Lansing are among the few services that the participants have become involved in throughout the years.

“We are trying to teach (the kids) and instill in them the need to give back to the community for everything they’re getting,” Williams said.

Bryant said she is grateful for the community support.

“Whether it’s a $10 gift certificate they donate or a $200 tee sponsor, we really appreciate the money,” she said.

“100 percent of our profits goes directly to the kids, and the community is 100 percent behind us, and our hearts go out to the community for helping out with the kids’ programs.”