The Board of Directors of the Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL) has announced that the 2010 PAL Citizen of the Year Award has been conferred upon Perry Garcia, an officer with the Redwood City Police Department. This award is in recognition of Officer Garcia’s many contributions to PAL, and his high standards of community involvement.

“The PAL Board recognizes and is grateful for Perry’s 12 years of volunteer service with over 2,400 hours as the PAL karate instructor,” said Board President Jim Gordon. “With his own black belt in karate, Perry’s efforts and passion to pass along his knowledge, skill, and life lessons to our youth has been outstanding. On behalf of the Board of Directors, it’s Members at Large, the PAL Advisory Board, and the community of Redwood City, I congratulate Perry as the 2010 PAL Citizen of the Year.”

Officer Garcia’s volunteer service with PAL is exemplified by his mentoring of over 700 youth who have participated in the PAL karate program over the years. His well-known patience as an instructor, his dedication to working with new students, and his encouragement of them to achieve their best in both karate and in life, make him an outstanding role model. Under Office Garcia’s leadership, students competed in local and regional tournaments, with eight of his students graduating with black belts. He’s well-known throughout the PAL community, and the greater Redwood City community, for his generous commitment to helping the youth of Redwood City reach their goals, and in helping PAL to fulfill its core purpose of “Helping youth learn honest values, develop assets, and increase life skills.”

Redwood City PAL focuses on intervention, prevention, and alternative programs for at-risk and economically challenged youth in Redwood City. PAL provides a positive influence on thousands of children and teen lives each year with its many youth programs and its great volunteers who give their time and energy to help build a great community. PAL’s website is www.redwoodcitypal.com.

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