Tattoo Removal Program

Helping Change Futures

The Tattoo Removal Program Has Been in Existence for 16 Years Serving Thousands of Participants and is in desperate need of a new laser machine. The mission of the program is to provide tattoo removal to people who have proven they are transitioning out of the gang life style

The program is also helping the domestic violence victims with healing from the abuse suffered as many perpertrators force their victims to tattoo their names on them to mark the victim as property.

Participants that are trying to change their lives find that the tattoos are stigma that follows them through life.  Tattoo removal is an important part of breaking your identity from the gang life style and creating a person, free of marks or symbols, that stand in the way of establishing employment and building relationships.  This is the final step in rehabilitation.

This much needed program serves San Mateo County residents.  many are on probation, parole, or in treatment.

Besides providing innumerable new-found freedoms, the Tattoo Removal Program was also designed to give each former gang member the opportunity to give back to society.  Each participant completes community service hours to participate in the program and to date they have performed thousands of hours of public work for the community.

Requirements to be eligible for participating in the program include being at least 10 years old, attending school and/or work, performing 20-plus hours of community service, being willing to meet regularly with a program sponsor and commitment to live a gang-free lifestyle.

The program has assisted hundreds of individuals in removing regrettable tattoos that they either acquired as a youth, in prison, or after succumbing to the gang lifestyle.

Who is Involved?

This program is a collaboration between the Redwood City Police Department, San Mateo County Probation Department, San Mateo County Shreiff's Office S.A.L. and the Redwood City P.A.L.

Since the inception of the program;

• 2200 participants with over 44,000 tratments.
• Doctors and nurses have volunteered over 2,000 hours.
• Clients have provided over 20,000 community service hours.
• Clients have participated in hundreds of community outreach programs
• Clients range from 10 years old to 50 years old.

How Can You Help?

We are looking to raise $125,000 to continue this life changing program. 

The current laser machine which wa donated to the program is no longer operational, so the need for a new laser machine is urgent.  The proposed new laser is a Cynosure ConBio C6 with an extended warranty.  This unit has three Q-switched wavelengths that make it possible to treat all types of tattoo colors.

Direct gifts of cash to the Tattoo removal Program are fully tax deductable.

Pledges to the Tattoo Removal Program may be made over a period of three years. A signed pledge card or letter of intent is required.  Tax deductions are earned only on amounts paid on the pledge in the year the payment was made.

Marketable or closely held securities may be given to the Tattoo Removal Program.  As a direct gift, it is always to the donor's advantage to make a gift of appreciated securities in avoidance of capital gains tax. 

For more information on the Program or to make a donation please call;

Manuel Velarde 650-780-7195
John Domeniconi 650-363-4232
Carrie Cross 650-877-7028

Your contribution is fully tax deductable, Tax ID#94-3229506

How To Beef Up Home Security And Stop Garage Door Hacking

If you have an older garage door opener or remote that does not employ the newer rolling code technology, you could be putting the safety of your home and family at risk.

Today more than ever, hackers have expanded their focus to many other electrical devices besides the computer. Hackers have found that older style handheld remote garage door transmitters can be bypassed with a little bit of electrical wiring finesse. Hackers can easily modify a standard door opener to accept a USB port, and software is readily available on the web to modify how it operates.

This deceptive action communicates with your garage door opener and allows hackers to gain entrance to your garage. Homeowners might be surprised that this task is possible and can be an alarming and somewhat unsettling prospect.

Professional Hackers have even gone so far as to demonstrate their prowess by spotlighting their “how to” videos on YouTube and other video sites.

As a homeowner, you can stop this from happening to you by properly protecting your garage door with rolling code technology. Rolling code technology is used in keyless entry systems, garage door openers for example, to prevent someone from stealing the code you use to open your garage door. Rolling code, also called Intellicode or CodeDodger, replaces the old technology of setting dip switches on the garage door opener operator.

"Dip switches were used back in the 1950′s through about the early 1970′s. This technology sent out a single code to open or close the garage. As garage door openers became more common, codes were often duplicated, as a set of dip switches can only have a maximum of 256 possible combinations. This caused quite a problem. Imagine driving down the street and being able to click your remote control and open your neighbors garage! What a security nightmare! Not only were there not enough variation of codes for the dip switches to handle, it was very easy for someone in the know to capture the signal, and use it at a later time to get into your home." This capability means that they can never be repeated or bypassed; thereby making stolen codes useless to pesky burglars looking to rob you blind.

Staying connected and plugged in to new security features for your home is critical these days. The wonderful World Wide Web can provide a wealth of information on how you can upgrade your old garage door remote and opener. Using a rolling code transmitter can make home security systems even more secure and purchasing an updated opener is your first defense against intruders from entering your home.

"What if I don't Have Rolling Code Technology?"

Here are some safety tips if you do not have Rolling Code technology;

•While on vacation or away from home for extended periods of time, unplug the garage door opener unit or use a vacation lock on the wall console switch, which is an optional accessory on some garage door openers.

• Wireless keypads, which activate the garage door opener with a personal identification number (PIN), are available on most garage door systems. This allows family members to open the door without the use of a key or remote. Never disclose the PIN or leave it written down.

• Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant. It should be treated like a house key.

•Always lock the door from the garage to the inside of your home for greater safety and security.

•Check to make sure your garage door is closed when you lock your entry doors at night.

excerpts from agaragedooropener.com