ESCONDIDO -- Larry Michel didn't wait for retirement to dive into community service.

In fact, he put in about 25 years of volunteer work and philanthropic giving to numerous local organizations before retiring from his orthodontic practice in January because of a hand injury. That involvement can be measured by the one-page list on his resume of positions held and awards received.

What can't be measured are the number of people, particularly youngsters, who have benefited from his contributions. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego gave one estimate when the city of Escondido presented Michel last month with one of its State of the City Awards.

During his 15 years assisting the club, Michel has contributed more than 1,500 volunteer hours, and primarily through his business, Hidden Valley Orthodontics, generated more than $700,000 in cash and equipment for the club, according to his nomination form.

"His company has been the youth sports sponsor here for many years. I think he's really had an impact on the club. Other companies have seen what he has done and have stepped up their support as well," said Danny Sherlock, president/CEO.

Michel's hands-on work and generosity have extended to the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, which named him its volunteer of the year and business leader of the year in 2002 and 2004, respectively, to Neighborhood Healthcare, which presented him its Pacemaker Award in 2001, and the Escondido Rotary, from which he received a Service Above Self Award in 2000.

He's also active at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, was a founding member of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, is a founding member of the recently launched Escondido Community Foundation, and is one of a corps of volunteers that organizes the Escondido Jaycees Christmas Parade each year.

He and Sherlock also took a week last year to travel to Pascagoula, Miss., to help with Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts. They helped put a roof on a house damaged by the storm and replaced drywall in a flooded home.

"A lot of the (organizations) I'm associated with are from people I've come to know in the community," said Michel. "They want me or the office to get involved in activities relating to youth. We've gotten way more out of it than we've put in."

His biggest time commitment now is in helping to launch the Kid for Life endowment program at the Boys & Girls Club. Michel works to let supporters know how they can remember the club in their wills or trusts, while seeking to identify people who have already done so in order to thank them and help the club plan.

"It's a really easy, fun thing to do," Michel said. "The people I talk to want to do this anyway. We just give them an avenue to do it."

Leading the endowment effort is just one of many ways Michel has pitched in to help the club.

"He's provided leadership all over the place. He's been chairman of the board, chairman of our auction, the Kid for Life committee. He's seen as a leader by fellow board members and staff," said Sherlock. "The nice thing about Larry is that he always does things first before asking other people."

Retirement will provide Michel with a chance to get more personally involved with his volunteer activities.

"Before, things were always business related. We would sponsor things and Hidden Valley Orthodontics got its name out there, and that was a good thing," he said. "With retiring, I'm there purely because I want to help the club and the kids. It's not business connected anymore. It makes it more fun."

Contact staff writer Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com. To comment, go to nctimes.com.