'Gracious Donors' Help San Mateo's Sheriff's Activity League

The following was submitted for publication by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League:

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL) held its first annual Sheriff’s Circle Appreciation Dinner at the Menlo Circus Club recognizing SAL’s major donors.

Odalys, a fifteen year old from the Coastside, spoke how the SAL program has positively impacted her life and changed the direction she was headed.

Sheriff Munks and Undersheriff Bolanos presented each donor with a memento of appreciation and thanked them for their generous donations that allow SAL to provide programs to youth throughout San Mateo County.

"There are many children in our communities who would not be able to have certain experiences without the extreme generosity of people such as yourselves," said Undersheriff Bolanos.

The SAL program received very exciting news that evening from Stacey Wagner, Kaiser Permanente Director of Public Relations, who announced that SAL was just approved for a $20,000 grant for the SAL Healthy Kids program, through the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Partners Grant Program; and Pamela Kurtzman and Lee Michelson from the Sequoia Healthcare District, that SAL will be awarded a $45,000 grant for the SAL Healthy Kids Program through their Caring Community Grant Program.

“Sequoia Healthcare District first became involved with SAL several years ago, when SAL was first being developed. To see the growth in popularity and in service over the past few years has been remarkable. What you folks have built is truly valuable and SHD could not be happier," said Lee Michelson – Sequoia Healthcare District CEO.

The SAL Healthy Kids Program was created to address the disproportionate percentage of youth in the SAL target areas that are risk for obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The program offers regular physical activity through SAL programs, nutrition education for kids, parents and families, wellness screenings and .other resources. A new component to the program includes “Got Power”, which gives each youth the responsibility of tracking their eating habits and physical activity.

About the Sheriff’s Activities League

SAL’s mission is to invest in all youth of San Mateo County by creating opportunities that guide them toward their full potential through impactful programs, which foster relationships between deputies, youth, families and the community. SAL’s program activities provide opportunities for deputies to have positive interactions with youth outside of law enforcement contexts, to help build understanding and trust within our community. Each of our programs addresses one of the critical human services needs we see within our community, while including the opportunity for positive interaction with law enforcement personal.