PAL Honors Three With Green Jacket

Photo by Ed Whitman. L-R: PAL President Howard Berman, Michael Minerva of Empress EMS Ambulance Services, Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner, Captain Sean Moran of the Yonkers Fire Department, and PAL Executive Director Doug Grey

The Yonkers Police Athletic League held its annual dinner gala June 27 at Mulino’s Lake Isle. This year’s honorees were Yonkers Police Department Commissioner Charles Gardner, Michael Minerva from Empress EMS Ambulance Services, and Yonkers Fire Department Captain Sean Moran.

PAL President Howard Berman presented all three with the PAL Green Jacket, which is one of the highest honors given to those who serve the people of Yonkers and help the PAL in its mission – to improve the quality of life for all youth of Yonkers through educational and athletic programs.

Also honored at the gala was Sal Corrente for his many years as PAL boxing coach. Corrente was recognized for the many boxing champions that he has work with, and was given a champion’s boxing belt by Berman, who was joined by many of Corrente’s former boxing students and by Melvina Lathan, director of youth services, and PAL Executive Director Doug Grey.

“For all of his work over the years, Sal Corrente has been a champ for the PAL,” said PAL Board Member Mike Bennett. “Hundreds of young boys have been impacted by the lessons of boxing Sal has instilled in them, and they come back and say thanks.”