Roller hockey coach Paul Bello was awarded the 2006 Volunteer Award at the Georgia Recreation and Park Association Seventh District Awards Banquet held October 19th in Roswell.
Alpharetta, Ga…Roller hockey coach Paul Bello was awarded the 2006 Volunteer Award at the Georgia Recreation and Park Association Seventh District Awards Banquet held October 19th in Roswell.
Mr. Bello was recognized for his contributions and efforts in support of the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department Youth Roller Hockey Program at Union Hill Park. Mr. Bello has coached youth roller hockey for ARPD for 3 years. Both of his sons played in the league. In the past year, he organized a group of roller hockey enthusiasts to become the “Friends of Union Hill Park.” UHP is the venue for roller hockey, where Mr. Bello has also been an active participant in the adult leagues. During the 2006 spring season, he facilitated goalie clinics at no cost to participants in an effort to develop young players’ skills and interests in playing goalie for ARPD’s program.
Prior to finalizing the “Friends of Union Hill Park,” Mr. Bello consulted with ARPD staff regarding his idea to organize a group of parents interested in promoting the facility and implementing facility improvements to attract more players and teams. As a direct result of Mr. Bello’s leadership and community support, Alpharetta City Council approved $285,000 in the FY2007 budget for UHP upgrades including roof installations, new flooring, and improvements to the boards.
“Mr. Bello has spearheaded an effort to change the future of youth roller hockey in Alpharetta and make Union Hill Park a viable facility in the Atlanta area. The Department receives many compliments on his behalf regarding his coaching and knowledge of the game, as well as his kindness to the kids,” said Kevin McDonald, Athletic Coordinator who oversees the roller hockey program at ARPD.
Alpharetta City Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Paine commented, “The City is fortunate to have dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers like Paul Bello working with our Recreation and Parks Department. His passion for roller hockey and commitment to the youth in this community are commendable. We are proud that he was honored as Volunteer of the Year by GRPA Seventh District.” Mr. Bello noted, “I’m not a politician, I’m just a volunteer hockey coach. I learned a lot about politics in this process but probably the most important lesson learned was that anything worthwhile is going to take persistence and effort to accomplish…The kids in Alpharetta deserve to have a top-notch facility…Once the improvements [to UHP] are complete, the kids will have a great place to play and the participation will continue to grow. While it’s great to have been recognized for the effort, it’s really about the kids in Alpharetta, and this is a huge win for them.”
PHOTO: Pictured l. to r.: Philip Broome, Recreation Supervisor II; Kevin McDonald, Athletic Coordinator; Paul Bello; and Mike Perry, Director of Recreation and Parks.