LONG BEACH PAL

PAL VOLUNTEER of the YEAR for 2006

Coach Joe Zanders, PAL Boxing Program

Coach Joe Zanders has been a volunteer at the Long Beach Police Athletic League since June 1992. The success of Coach Joe's program can be measured by the numerous District, State, Regional, and National titles his boxers have won, but if you ask him how he measures success, he would quietly say "I'm just trying to make a difference in young adult's lives." He accomplishes this by leading example in both his professional and personal life. He is personally involved in many aspects of his boxer's lives; from checking on grades, by having them bring in their report cards, to taking time to talk to them one on one about their future goals and what it means to be a productive member of society. Coach Joe routinely volunteers over 1,000 hours a year, which includes volunteering sometimes 6 or 7 days a week. All this after he has worked 40 hours at his primary job. During these years of dedicated service, he has not said a cross word against anyone and has always been courteous and professional. This is the type of example he sets for himself and the boxers involved in the program. It's volunteers like Coach Joe that make the Police Athletic League so successful.

THANKS COACH JOE!!!