King County Councilmember von Reichbauer officially recognized Shelley Puariea for 30 years of service to the community.

“At a time when so many of our regional children have only one parent at home, Shelley has been that second parent to hundreds, if not thousands, of children,” said von Reichbauer at a ceremony Wednesday.

Von Reichbauer was on the original board of the Auburn/Federal Way Boys & Girls Club and was named board member of the year in 2000.

Puariea began her career in 1982, serving as club director for the Bellevue Boys & Girls Club. She also served the King County and Alderwood Boys & Girls Clubs. She then served for 10 years as the executive director of the Auburn/Federal Way Boys & Girls Club and is currently the executive director for the Ballard Boys & Girls Club.

Puariea was the driving force behind building and operating EX3, the first stand-alone teen center in Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a process which is now used throughout the country.