Torrington Police Athletic League Makes Technology Investment to Better Serve Youth

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With no paid staff and more than 800 children participating in its programs, the Torrington Police Athletic League (PAL) is using technology for the first time to help the nonprofit meet the growing needs of the city's youth.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100510/LA02155LOGO)

"We've experienced phenomenal growth over the last four years," explained Torrington Community Policing Officer and PAL President Anthony Pietrafesa. "We went from serving nearly 80 kids to more than 800, and I simply can't handle every registration the way I did before."

The PAL's growth over the last few years is the result of its collaboration with a variety of community-based organizations including schools, cultural groups, social service agencies and churches to educate both children and parents about the league and its services.

"We are a powerful antidote to negative behaviors," said Pietrafesa. "We have proven that our organization is an effective solution for improving our community's quality of life."

While the organization receives no public funding, support from Torrington police officers, corporate sponsors and private donations enabled the PAL to recently purchase a performance management and outcome measurement system from nFocus Software based in Austin, Texas.

nFocus Software is supplying TraxSolutions®, a web-based tool that will assist the organization with a variety of tasks ranging from registering children for basketball leagues to launching a new mentoring program.

Ananda Roberts, President of nFocus Software, said, "Our TraxSolutions software is designed to support the life-changing efforts of nonprofits like the Police Athletic League which are making a positive difference every day in our neighborhoods and communities."

This marks the first investment in such technology since the creation of the PAL in Torrington nearly 25 years ago. The Board of Directors' decision to purchase the system, Pietrafesa said, was based on a referral from the Waterbury PAL, another nFocus Software client.

Nationwide, PALs have existed for nearly 90 years and provide safe after-school programs for children to interact with one another, engage in life-skill activities and work on homework. nFocus Software serves about 50 leagues nationwide.

In addition, PALs offer police officers the opportunity to interact and make a positive impression on the youth. Pietrafesa said nearly 70 percent of Torrington police officers participate in payroll deductions to support the organization, and they also volunteer to coach teams and oversee special events.  

"We have no payroll to support, we are volunteers, so every dime we receive goes toward programming that serves the kids," Pietrafesa stressed.

About nFocus Software

nFocus Software is the leading provider of performance management, training, and outcome measurement software to the public sector. For more than 17 years, nFocus Software has successfully implemented solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company's youth and education solutions track and measure outcomes for more than 3.8 million children in all 50 states and Canada.

For more information on nFocus Software, visit our web site at www.nfocus.com

SOURCE nFocus Software