Joe Valdez: 15 and Presidential

Since 2011, 15-year-old Joe Valdez has given 555 hours to the City of Dallas. He was recently the young person in Dallas to win the Presidential Award at the Volunteer Awards Banquet on April 16 at Fair Park.

Joe Valdez regularly volunteers for the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Center at Exall Park, Lake Highlands North, and Ridgewood Belcher Recreation Centers. 

He likes to help with summer camps, holiday camps, spring break camps, BOOvie Nights, Easter Events, Parking Lot Sales, Toys for Tots, It’s My Park Days, Punt Pass and Kick Competitions, and Field Trips.  Joe is very helpful when it comes to room preparation, preparing and serving snacks, counting campers all day, setting up bounce houses, cleaning and leading sports activities, said Heidi Hulin, program coordinator at Dallas City Hall.  

Now a freshman at Woodrow Wilson High School, Joe has been an active member of the Junior ROTC program since attending J.L. Long Middle School.  

"Joe is an outstanding mentor to other kids," Hulin said. "Joe is very mature and responsible and an outstanding asset to the City of Dallas!"