2019 Annual Report

www.paceomaha.org5105 S. 37th Street

402-850-9596

A message from Executive Director Richard Gonzalez P.A.C.E. (Police Athletics for Community Engagement) is striving every day to build positive

Police/Community relationships between police officers, first responders, youth participants and ourcommunity through athletics and educational programming. Our P.A.C.E. athletes return every year toexperience the positive opportunities we are creating. We want them to share in quality "safe places toplay", while being surrounded by police, their parents, community members and leaders, all providingpositive influences on our youth. This environment gives P.A.C.E. the opportunity to promote our Corevalues of "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." (Reliability, Enthusiasm, Sportsmanship, Positive attitude, Education,Commitment and Teamwork). We believe sports are essential to academic success, community safetyand public health. P.A.C.E. continues to grow from a program that served (65) youth in the beginning, to2,650 (2017), 4,150 (2018) and over 5,800 in 2019. Today, over 5,800 youth wake up and are excited,knowing they have a team they belong to and police officers/coaches who care about them and theirfuture. We at P.A.C.E. also understand it is a community effort that makes our program successful. Weare P.A.C.E. because of the caring donors, supporters, partners and over 700 volunteers (2019), anincrease from over 400 (2018), from law enforcement and the community. All who believe in our kidsand the mission of P.A.C.E.

As we end our 2019 P.A.C.E. athletic programming season, there are so many stories involving ourP.A.C.E. youth, police coaches and community members to share with everyone. These memories willbe cherished by all for a lifetime. I want to take a moment to share with you why P.A.C.E. is so muchmore than athletics. In a time where “pay to play” athletics is making it tougher for our inner-city youthto participate in sporting activities, especially young females, we felt that general athletics was our wayof offering something fun and positive during summer vacation and while the kids are away fromschool. We felt it was important to provide this opportunity FREE of any charges to participants andfamilies. Our objective is to provide positive activities at specific times of the day and week whereyouth statistically are most vulnerable to many negative influences.

Today, a child waking up in a low-income community is four times less likely to play sports after schoolthan a child waking up in a more affluent community. Kids who should be kicking soccer balls andswinging baseball bats after school, instead, will spend part of their day hanging out on the street, withhigher chances of being surrounded by negative influences.

Together, we are investing in the future of our youth and the positive impact they will have in ourcommunity. We are all making a difference. With each child we impact, we strengthen our entirecommunity. Thank you for the faith, trust and support of P.A.C.E. Omaha.

Follow Us on Twitter @PACEOmahaOr on Facebook at PACE Omaha

Our MissionPolice Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) combines community policing, crime prevention, youth development and education via FREE team sports and law enforcement education camps for “at-risk” and disadvantaged inner-city youth in Omaha. PACE develops discipline, self-esteem, and positive moral values through wholesome sports competition and education programs.

The Omaha Police Department (OPD) and other local law enforcement agencies participate by mentoring and coaching youth participants recruited by PACE staff from area schools, parent referrals, juvenile probation checks, and neighborhood events. PACE free athletic and education programs provide community-based gang prevention, intervention, and suppression through this key partnership with the OPD, the City of Omaha, the Omaha Fire Department, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, LaVista Police Department, and other local first responder agencies.

The combined mission of these organizations is to build positive community bridges and relationships between police officers, juvenile probation officers, juvenile offenders, at-risk youth, and the community; and to eliminate youth gang membership, reduce recidivism, prevent crime, and revitalize neighborhoods.

To reduce crime and juvenile delinquency in Omaha, PACE programming teams underserved youth, police officers, and community members together working collaboratively on constructive and fun goals.

PACE programming is intentionally provided during the known peak times that idle youth might be engaged in delinquent or gang activities.

At PACE, our motto is: “its not the game, but what we learn from the game that makes us better citizens”. The youth participate in free organized athletics, but the driving force is knowledge based on the acronym RESPECT.

R = Reliability for attendanceE = Enthusiasm to play and learn with

passion S = Sportsmanship for fair play and

respect for yourself, your teammates, coaches, officials and parents

P = Positive Attitude to go beyond the restrictions of winning or losing

E = Education as a prime goal in their lives

C = Commitment to finish what you start and

T = Teamwork to work together for the betterment of the team

Police Athletics for Community Engagement(PACE) offers FREE athletic programming to at-risk youth in the City of Omaha. We presentlyoffer Baseball, Basketball, CrossFit, Flag Football,and Soccer programming free of charge. PACEyouth are provided all equipment and uniformsneeded to participate in these free athleticprograms. PACE kids and coaches just “show up”and PACE handles the rest, from field provisionsand maintenance, referees, to refreshments. Weoffer at-risk and underprivileged kids theopportunity to participate in great programmingat quality facilities, which for many, would beopportunities they would miss.It is our belief that if we offer “safe places to play” team

activities to engage our youth when they are idle and notin school, we will have a greater opportunity to make apositive moral influence in their decision-making process.Teams are coached by police officers and volunteers frommany professions in our community. We are grateful tohave coaches and volunteers from the Omaha PoliceDepartment, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the La VistaPolice Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.

In 2019, PACE programming had over 5,800participants. Another record-breaking year!!

Athletics

BaseballSoccer

BasketballCrossFit

Flag-FootballCheer Team

Youth Activity 2016 2017 2018 2019

Baseball 285 293 813 701

Basketball 136 113

CrossFit 20 35 120 75

Football 54 103 160 230

LE* Educational Camps 49 101 280

Soccer 1,594 2,170 2,824 4,495

Total 1,953 2,650 4,154 5894

Increase over previous year 36% 58% 41.9%

42%Overall

Participation Growth

2019 Participation

Participation in PACE Programs continues to increase ata phenomenal rate. As word spreads throughout thegreater metro Omaha community, that our programs areFREE and serving kids that would not otherwise have thewhere-with-all to participate, we are seeing a greaterdemand for services. We anticipate that 2020 will beanother record-breaking year at PACE and look forwardto reaching as many at-risk youth as we possibly can.

We are grateful to all our Sponsors, Donors, andVolunteers for helping us make a difference in the livesof these at-risk kids. Helping all kids succeed allows PACEto reduce gang activity, juvenile related crimes, graffitiand improve our community.

54%Soccer

Program Growth

43%Flag-Football

Program Growth

After School Programming

PACE continues to offer After-School Club Soccerprogramming at two area Junior High Schools with thehelp of a Nebraska Department of Education grant andour partners at Completely KIDS. The students receiveeducational classes from the Completely KIDS staff, andathletic skills education and equipment from a certifiedPACE coach for an 8-week period. The students arejoined by members of the Omaha Police Department,who interact with the kids during the training. As afinale, the kids participate in a field trip with a soccermatch between the two schools.

In 2019, PACE continued to partner with CompletelyKIDS and Future Soccer to expand our After-School ClubSoccer into North Omaha at over 40 area elementaryschools. This year over 1,200 students took part in thisphysical skills soccer training by certified soccercoaches. The students participated in the training attheir respective schools for an eight-week period. Inaddition, with the assistance of volunteer soccer coachTim Shriver, PACE offers a free North and South soccerAcademy throughout the winter.

Cops Kids Camps

Participation in the PACE Camps tripled in 2019with almost 300 participants. These camps providean additional opportunity for underserved youth to stay safeand off the streets. KOPS camps also create the perfectopportunity for positive interaction between youth and lawenforcement officers, further improving Police/CommunityRelations. Thank you to Metro Community College and USBank for allowing PACE kids to be part of a free ACTpreparatory course during the summer.

PACE began offering KOPS* Law Enforcement Educational programming in 2017 tofurther bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth, and to provideprogramming to youth that might not want to play a sport.In 2019, PACE hosted five camps. During our camps, participants receive a variety of programming from

Law Enforcement lessons in gang-prevention, cyber/digital safety and security, bullying, and fire safety. Each daycampers are visited by several Omaha Police and Omaha Fire department specialty units, from the SWAT Team, theBomb Unit, the Mounted Patrol, Canine Unit, and the Omaha Fire Smoke Truck. Campers are provided two mealsper day and a variety of snacks and treats. During the two Summer Camps, participants were also treated to fieldtrips that included, Ice-Skating, Bowling, a Movie (at the theatre), Fishing, a trip to the Zoo, and a Zip LineAdventure. On the last day of our Summer Camp, participants were treated to a Field Day where they competedalong-side the School Resource Officers that they had been paired with all week long. Our Summer CampParticipants also went home with a back-pack full of school supplies and surprises.

*KOPS – Kids Omaha Police

3rd Annual Christmas Adventure

In December, PACE held the 3rd Annual ChristmasAdventure. This day camp was attended by PACE youthages 8-11 and staffed by officers from the Omaha PoliceDepartment. The participants were treated to lunch anddinner, played educational games, created crafts anddecorated cookies. The kids were introduced to animalsfrom Wildlife Adventures and were treated to a visit from aPoppin’ Penelope the magician. Dek’s Tae-Kwon-Dostopped by to teach Tae-Kwon-Do skills, and many of theyouth were breaking boards after one lesson.

During the event the kids played dodge ball andparticipated in relay races. Santa paid everyone a visit atthe end of the night and all participants went home with abag stuffed full of goodies. Thank you to our generousdonors for helping us make the Holiday Season bright forsome of our PACE kids!!

Coaches and Volunteers

Baseball - 265

Basketball - 18

CrossFit - 40

Football - 71

Camps - 105

Soccer - 284

Total - 773

PACE Volunteersby program type

PACE ADVOCATEnoun: uplifting one kid at a timeverb: giving my time for my communitysynonym: Volunteer: champion for the heart behind the badge

2019 Income Summary

Baseball Program.456%

Interest Income.003%

Miscellaneous Income.592

Fundraising98.95%

2019 Expense Summary

Award WinningPolice Athletics for Community Engagement had an award winning 2019. We are honored to have received the following awards:

• Pay it Forward Award for Community Service• National Latino Peace Officers Association Service to

Community Award, Executive Director, Richard Gonzalez• Kerrie Orozco Service Award, Board Member, Greg

Gonzalez• Cinco de Mayo Community Service Award• Community Fund Award from the Scripps Howard

Foundation• American Laboratories Inc. Gives Back Award

2018 Board MembersKip GordmanChairman & Active Board Member, Co-Founder & Managing Director Customerserv Solutions and KMG Holdings LLC

Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez Co-Chair & Active Board Member, Omaha Police Dept., Deputy Chief, Executive Services Bureau

Chief Todd SchmadererChief of Police, Omaha Police Department (Emeritus)

Aaron JohnsonSecretary & Active Board Member, General Counsel at Baird Holm LLP Real Estate & Lending Practices Group

Anthony “Tony” SchragerTreasurer & Active Board Member, COO and Principal, Active Brands Company

Officer Tony EspejoActive Board Member, Omaha Police Dept., Detective Gang Unit (LPOA-Latino Peace Officers Association)

Captain Kathy Belcastro-GonzalezActive Board Member, Omaha Police Dept., Captain, Southeast Precinct

Jamie GutierrezActive Board Member, President and CEO Midwest Maintenance Co.

Lieutenant Ken FoxActive Board Member, Omaha Police Dept., Lieutenant, Southeast Precinct (BPOA-Black Peace Officers Association)

Ray SombergActive Board Member, Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of First Responders Foundation

Lance JonesActive Board Member, Certified Financial Planner, Parkland Securities, LLC

Sergeant Marcus TaylorActive Board Member, Omaha Police Dept., Sergeant, Training Unit (BPOA-Black Peace Officers Association)

2019 PACE Staff

Captain Richard Gonzalez (Ret.)Executive Director

Officer Antonio EspejoDetective Gang Unit, Omaha Police Department, PACE Recruiter/OPD Liaison

Lieutenant Ken FoxLieutenant Northwest Precinct, Omaha Police Department, PACE Recruiter/OPD Liaison

Sergeant Ray Fidone (Ret.)Administrator

Tish MendickProgram Coordinator

Arlene ZepedaVolunteer Coordinator

Saul SolteroBaseball Coordinator

Geovanny SalgadoSoccer Coordinator

Jeremy MessickFlag-Football Coordinator

Kyle DroegeSupport Staff

Sgt. Terence CabralSupport Staff

Tim ShriverMicro/Girls Soccer Coordinator

A very special thank you to Sgt. PhilHodges and Ofcr Loviernai Wilburn.Phil and Nai are helping documentand preserve PACE history throughtheir outstanding photography andvideography.

A sincere thank you the City of Omaha, Mayor Jean Stothert,Council Members, Chief of Police Todd Schmaderer, Parks DirectorBrook Bench, and to all of our many generous donors, sponsors, volunteers,and PACE staff who have worked very hard to help make the PACE vision areality. The response received from local foundations, faith-basedorganizations, non-profit groups, business professionals, concerned citizenswishing to help our kids and law enforcement volunteers make PACE a policecommunity relations success, is truly humbling.

A very special Thank You to our brothers and sisters atthe Omaha Fire Department. Thank you for taking thetime and resources to show up at PACE eventsthroughout 2019. We sincerely appreciate yoursupport and help in making the PACE programs the bestthey can be!