SAN DIEGO, CA, September 14, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Escondido, Calif. (September 12, 2013) - The Escondido Police Officers' Association (EPOA), along with six other community organizations, received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart as part of the grand opening celebrations yesterday at Escondido's first Wal-Mart store at 1330 East Grand Avenue. The donation from Wal-Mart is part of the company's continued tradition of giving back to the cities that their stores serve and assisting organizations with their work in those communities. Michael Garcia, president of the EPOA, was in attendance to receive the generous grant from Wal-Mart in support of the EPOA's dedication to public safety.

"I was honored to receive a $1,000 grant donation on behalf of EPOA, which will be put to good use in the Escondido community," said Garcia, who has worked as an Escondido police officer for the last 19 years and has served on the EPOA Board for the past six years. "The EPOA Board of Directors will meet on today to decide how to use the $1,000 grant to further our goals of serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Escondido."

After several years of planning with the city of Escondido, Wal-Mart chose September 11, 2013 as the grand opening date to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. With the Salvation Army Band, NJROTC Color Guard, State and City Government Officials all in attendance, Wal-Mart opened the new store with a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration.

The EPOA is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the welfare of police officers, dispatchers, and community service officers of Escondido by working toward improving working conditions, benefits, and wages for those that serve. For additional information, please visit http://escondidopoa.com/ or contact Stephen Schuler, media relations manager at (619) 858-0322 or stephen@altstrategies.com.