Don Yorie

Induction Year: 2024

Category: Service and Community

Worked as a Suffolk County Police Officer from 1975 through 2009.

Don started in PAL as a Police Officer in 1996 as a program coordinator, retiring from that position in 2009. Two days later, he became the Director of Development for Suffolk County PAL, a position he has held since.

In his role, he has impacted the lives of thousands of children through sports across Suffolk County.

During his tenure:

• Expanded the Summer Baseball program to 126 community-based teams
• Expanded travel baseball programs
• Created Identi-Kit (child safety program Fingerprints and DNA)
• Created several nationally recognized programs for gang prevention and intervention with key partners in the community
• Helped launch the REACHOUT program through Martial Arts with Suffolk Sports Hall of Famer Jerry Figgiani
• Jump Start- 3 on 3 Friday Night Basketball program (Pastor Joe Lecci)
• INSPYRE – Innovative Neighborhood Sports For Youth Bowling with the Badges.   Cops and Kids (District Attorney’s Office)
• Created new evidence-based PAL mentoring programs
• Summer Camp programs – National PAL Mentoring Program
• Anti-Bullying Workshops/Character Education – East Coast Black Belt Academy Sensei Figgiani)
• Obtained the NYS Parks grant to develop two football /soccer fields on undeveloped property in Central Islip owned by the Town of Islip
• Since 2009 has successfully brought in grant awards exceeding $2 million for programs and sports field development for the residents of Suffolk County