Judge's son honored for work with at-risk teens

When Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis was the Lowell police chief a decade ago, he received a call from US District Judge Mark Wolf, who was calling with an offer to help quell gang violence that had erupted in the city.

"He said he wanted to help," Davis said, "so I thought he was going to talk strategies about law enforcement. He was not. He was offering his son."

Matt Wolf was a high school student hoping to get a job in a Lowell recreation program. He had worked to develop a free day camp called Future Stars that tried to keep urban youth away from situations that could lead them into crime.

"They put together a tremendous program in a very short time," Davis said when presenting a commendation to Matt Wolf at a ceremony at police headquarters yesterday. "They made a difference in the community."

Matt Wolf, now 26, was recognized yesterday with a Boston police commendation for his work in launching a similar program in Dorchester last summer.

The Red Auerbach Youth Foundation funds the program, which 150 campers between the ages of 8 and 14 participated in last summer in cooperation with the city of Boston. The program incorporates guest speakers, discussions, and sports to keep children off the streets during their summer vacation.

"We feel really strongly about getting these children off the streets," Wolf said after accepting his commendation from Davis and Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "We really want to get them before they get influenced by other things."

This summer's camp will run from July 7 through Aug. 15 at the John Marshall School in Dorchester.