KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Police Athletic League of Kansas City has gotten a little more high tech.

This past December, GTech, the major lottery technology and services provider to the Missouri Lottery, unveiled a new $16,000 computer lab for the Police Athletic League of Kansas City, a nonprofit group that works with area youth. The launch of the new lab marks the 248th GTECH After School Advantage lab worldwide as part of the global program to provide underprivileged children with access to modern technology in areas where the company does business.

Representatives from GTECH joined local community members and PAL staff and members for an official ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony to celebrate the launch of the new lab. At the unveiling of the lab, Kathy Muenks, GTECH Missouri Account Development Manager, said she’s proud that the GTECH After School Advantage program continues to support the local youth in Kansas City through its latest computer lab donation.

This lab donation will provide children with an opportunity to utilize an influential combination of educational resources and new computer technology that might not otherwise be available to them,” Muenks said.

GTECH’s $16,000 donation includes 15 desktop computers, a smart board, a printer, chairs, Microsoft Office software, assorted educational software, and room decor. The new lab was designed to help the PAL engage members in homework, creative thinking, and study help. The technology is available five days a week during the school year, as well as during the summer. In addition to their daily job responsibilities, GTECH employees volunteered their time to purchase and install the technology and create a productive and inviting space for members. The new technology will provide local youth with essential computer literacy skills and assistance during the critical after school hours.

The mission of the PAL of Kansas City is to offer youth the opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive setting while participating in cultural, mentoring, and sports programs. The goal of the organization is to reduce youth related crime and build self-esteem by creating programming in academics, arts, cultural activities, sporting activities, and life skills enrichment.

In a prepared statement, Kansas City Chief of Police Darryl Forte said the impact PAL has had on the lives of our urban-core children, most of whom live in poverty, cannot be overstated. Many of these children, he added, have gone on to college with academic and athletic scholarships, attaining careers they never would have thought possible.

“This new computer lab allows us to offer after-school and summer programs to prepare our youth for careers in the 21st century,” Forte said.

At the unveiling, Christine Lentz, President of the PAL Board of Directors, said they are extremely blessed and fortunate to be the recipient of brand new state of the art computers and related equipment for our computer lab. This donation, she added, will provide an opportunity to enhance their education outside of their schools.

“This is an amazing opportunity to provide our PAL kids with this technology,” Lentz said. “Our kids work side by side with KCPD officers who assist them not only with their educational needs, but everyday life skills.”