Erik Estrada, who won over television audiences around the world as the lovable Officer Frank Poncherelo on the popular TV series CHiPs, will deliver the keynote address at the City of Bellflower's 16th annual BRAVO Awards. The awards program will take place Thursday, February 11th at 11:00 a.m. in the William and Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
    
The BRAVO Awards recognize individuals for acts of valor, heroism and outstanding service in support of public safety in Bellflower. In addition, a pair of local high school students will receive $500 scholarships for their winning essays about the importance of public safety and its role in the community.
    
Raised in a tough neighborhood in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Estrada's first major acting break came in 1970 when he was cast as Nicky Cruz - a streetwise gangster - opposite Pat Boone in the movie The Cross and the Switchblade. 
    
In 1972, he landed a role as a rookie policeman named Sergio in the film The New Centurions, staring George C. Scott. He went on to appear in several other movie hits such as Airport 1975 and Midway, which both starredCharlton Heston, before finding international stardom with CHiPs. Estrada played "Ponch," a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer, for six seasons on CHiPs, which ran from 1977-83.
     
Estrada's role on CHiPs thrust him into the limelight and launched an impressive career that has spanned more than three decades and earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Since his stint on CHiPs, Estrada has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including the highly successful Spanish-language TV serial Dos Mujeres, Un Camino, which was a top-rated series in the United States, Mexico and Latin America in the 1990s. Estrada was also a regular character on Sealab 2021 on the Cartoon Network and The Misadventures of Maya and Miguel on PBS, and has participated in a pair of popular TV reality shows - The Surreal Life and Armed & Famous. He has also been part of numerous national advertising campaigns in both Anglo and Latino markets.
    
When he isn't delighting audiences on screen, Estrada is highly involved in community service and outreach programs. He recently teamed up with the Safe Surfin' & Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to assist in catching internet predators and he is the national "good wheel" ambassador to The March of Dimes.
    
Estrada is also the International "Face of Dare" Ambassador and has served as the spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol's "car seat inspection and installation" program and their 11-99 Foundation. He has also been an active participant in events for Aids Project Los Angeles and Project Inform, as well as charities such as The Police Athletic League, The Youth Athletic League, Big Brothers, Special Olympics, United Way,
Amer-I-Can and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
    
For more information on the BRAVO program, call (562) 804-1424 ext. 2278.