While most teenagers play sports, join an after-school club or just hang out with friends, Garish spends his free time volunteering a couple hours each week at Lincoln Glen Manor, an assisted living and independent senior community in Willow Glen.

Garish first started volunteering his time two years ago, while a seventh-grade student meeting his community service requirements at St. Christopher School.

"Sometimes after school a friend will ask if I can do something, but I just tell them I am coming here," he says. "No one else from my school volunteers here."

As a student at the school, Garish was required to volunteer four hours a quarter. But his time commitment to volunteer at Lincoln Glen Manor far surpassed this requirement and led to his recognition as "Teen Volunteer of the Year" by the California Association of Health Facilities.

Although an avid Oakland A's baseball fan and eager to discuss sports, Garish becomes shy and almost modest in nature about his volunteering and award.

Unbeknownst to Garish, nursing-facility administrator Rebecca Turner filled out an application to nominate him for this award, and he was chosen as the top teen in the state in this particular category of service.

Garish says it was exciting to be flown down to Costa Mesa, Calif., stay overnight in a hotel and attend the association's quarterly meeting, at which he was presented with the award.

"I don't think he realized the importance of what he is doing until we got down to the meeting and talked to the other people there," Leslie Garish, Matt's mom, says.

This is the first time anyone from Lincoln Glen Manor has been recognized for his or her work as a volunteer and received an award. It also brought state recognition to the local facility.

"This is not only an honor for Matt, but for this hospital," says resident Susan Kinsey. "Matt is such a polite young man. I think he deserves this award."

Resident Carmella Stockdale is also thankful that teens like Garish volunteer their time at the Manor.

"When young people like Matt come here, it makes you feel young, too," Stockdale says. And he grooms himself very nicely."

He says that as he leaves St. Christopher behind for his next academic hurdle— a freshman this fall at Bellarmine College Preparatory—he will continue to volunteer at Lincoln Glen Manor.

But, for now, he is just happy to do anything he can to help the residents and staff at Lincoln Glen Manor, from decorating a room, to pushing wheelchair-bound residents, to cutting cake at a birthday party.

Even at the Aug. 18 afternoon ceremony honoring Garish, he placed the residents' needs before his own, as he attended to hungry seniors and passed out plates of food.

"He is cheerful, pleasant and friendly," director of nursing Roberta Robbins says. "And he has really grown up a lot. He was a kid when he came in, and now he is turning into a great young man."

At the Lincoln Glen Manor ceremony, Rep. Mike Honda was also present to congratulate Garish. And the residents —the firsthand recipients of Garish's kindness— also acknowledged the youth's selfless efforts.

Garish was a little embarrassed by all the attention but took it all in stride.

"I just like talking to the people here and telling them stories," he says. "I see what they are going through and know I will be there one day, too."