Save the Date!

The Eighth annual PAL Blues Festival

July 27 and 28
In beautiful Courthouse Square in Downtown Redwood City

Featuring great music,  delicious food, fun arts and crafts, kids area and a BBQ Cook-Off Competition!

PAL Introduces Pilot Program – HIP Health Program for Teens

The Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL) is now piloting an innovative after school course for middle school youth. The new program, Health Inspired Program for Teens (HIP!), was started in Sept 2011 with partial funding from Sequoia Healthcare District, Kaiser Permanente and the Berry Foundation.  The program was established to address the growing concern in the community about healthy outlets for at risk youth. This program takes a very broad view of ‘health’ by providing programs addressing physical, emotional and mental health youth issues.

The range of modules have included such things as, Hip Hop dance, Karate, gardening, basketball, healthy snacks and bullying. Upcoming modules include, cooking instruction at a profession kitchen, drug and alcohol awareness and swing and salsa dancing.  As PAL Director Tom Cronin says, “We are excited that PAL is providing a fun, safe and hands-on experience where middle school students will participate in a full range of ‘healthy’ activities.”  PAL has established this program to help meet some of Redwood City 2020 Community Wellness Objectives including:

• Increase easy everyday physical activity
• Make healthy food the easy, affordable and viable option
• Promote healthy practices in 2020 partner organizations so they serve as models for the community

PAL has approached this work as a real collaboration with the community and has partnered with the following groups to deliver the program: Global Resiliency Outreach Work (GROW), Somewhere2Turn, Bok Fu martial arts, El Centro de Libertad, Encore Performance Catering, Hidden Villa, and Teen Talk. For more information contact Tom Cronin at: tomcronin@redwoodcitypal.com.

Martin Cooper Named 2011 “Alpio Barbara Citizen of the Year”

Martin Cooper receiving the Alpio Barbara Citizen of the Year Award from PAL

January, 2012 – The Board of Directors of the Redwood City Police ActivitiesLeague (PAL) has announced that the recipient of the 2011 “Alpio Barbara Citizen of the Year” Award is Martin Cooper, a reserve officer with the Redwood City Police Department, and PAL volunteer.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the many years of service Marty has provided to PAL,” said Jim Gordon, President of the PAL Board of Directors. “His meaningful contributions of time and energy, high standards of community involvement, and many skills and talents have been of great value to the entire community of Redwood City.”

During his more than 14 years of service to PAL, Marty Cooper has performed as a board member, accountant, and Treasurer. This award recognizes his exemplary efforts and passion to help manage PAL’s financial health, significantly helping the organization to grow from its earlier years of serving 200 kids, to its present level of success with over 3,500 youth and community members involved each year.

The Alpio Barbara Citizen of the Year Award honors and commends Mr. Cooper’s tireless efforts in establishing a strong information technology system and set of process for PAL, helping it to be much more efficient and therefore better able to serve the community.  As a ‘jack of all trades’ for PAL, Mr. Cooper willingly stepped up and worked in many areas of PAL including establishing a new payroll system, securing insurance coverage, and setting up the PAL Document Binder – in effect helping to further organize the PAL operation and maximize its efficiency. Additionally, for many years Mr. Cooper has been directly involved in PAL’s annual Blues Festival fundraiser in Downtown Redwood City, making sure that this special day goes off smoothly.

Known throughout the PAL community for his generous commitment to helping the organization reach its goals, Marty Cooper’s work has had a lasting, positive impact on how PAL serves the community.

The annual Alpio Barbara Citizen of the Year Award, named after long-time PAL supporter and Redwood City businessman Alpio Barbara, recognizes the most admirable and commendable individuals for their exemplary efforts to bring PAL and its programs to the greater community.

Redwood City Police Activities League Presents Annual Fundraising Motorcycle Ride

Redwood City, CA - April 16, 2010 – The Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL) is proud to announce its 6th annual motorcycle fundraiser, benefitting youth in Redwood City and San Mateo County by helping to fund many important PAL programs. This year’s fun motorcycle run will be held on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 (rain out day is May 15), starting at Peninsula Harley, 380 Convention Way in Redwood City. Registration is from 8:30 – 9:45 am, and this scenic and fun police-escorted motorcycle ride starts at 10 am sharp.

This is a great opportunity to ride along with police motorcycle officers and other bikers through the scenic coast of San Mateo County, ending up at Sparky’s Hot Rod (975 Industrial, San Carlos) for a fabulous BBQ, fun raffle, and great live music. At least 250 motorcyclists are expected to participate on this great ride that raises funds for PAL. Funds are used to provide athletics, educational programs, and civic and cultural activities. Currently, there are more than 2,500 girls and boys that have participated in Redwood City PAL activities through the after school sports programs and at the Redwood City PAL Community Center. Unfortunately the economic circumstances are particularly challenging for many kids growing up in San Mateo County, and they need the community’s help more than ever. This motorcycle ride fundraiser is a great way to give to PAL.

Register before April 23rd at the special price of $25 per motorcycle ($30 with a 2nd rider); after April 23rd, the registration is $30/$35. With that entry fee the first 250 participants receive a special Ride T-shirt, a Ride pin, and BBQ lunch – and the knowledge that they’ve done something great for our community by helping PAL.

More information and advance registration by April 23 is available by contacting Alpio Barbara, Redwood City PAL event coordinator, at 650-369-0351 or via email at (alpio@redwoodgeneraltire.com). Redwood City and Redwood City PAL thank the many local sponsors that are contributing to make this annual event a great success, including Redwood General Tire, DPR Construction, Inc., and the San Mateo Chapter of the Harley Owners Group.

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Contacts:
Officer Dan Smith
Redwood City Police Department
650-556-1650, ext. 11

Alpio Barbara
Redwood City PAL Event Coordinator
369-0351