A group of businessmen who wanted a service organization started the club in the winter of 1946. Kiwanis Clubs of La Jolla and Ocean Beach jointly sponsored it, and the official charter date was April 8, 1946.
The first meeting place for the club was the Women’s Club of Pacific Beach. The club remained there for several years and then met at the Catamaran, Pernicano’s Pizza House, the Old Ox, the Mission Bay Golf Club and currently meets at the Broken Yolk Café (on Garnet Avenue) since 2000.
One of the first fundraisers was a members talent show at the Women’s Club and was a community sell-out. The apple fundraiser was a tradition of the club for many years. Apples were shipped from Washington by the case and delivered the last Thursday in October. A spaghetti dinner was the next traditional fundraiser, held at Pernicano’s restaurant on the last Thursday in April beginning in 1962. Kiwanians sell tickets and help prepare the meal. In 2012, the apple fundraiser was replaced by a second spaghetti dinner at Pernicano’s in the fall.
Pacific Beach Kiwanis has been a landmark organization and part of Pacific Beach history. Its members are community residents, business owners and local educators. Kiwanis and Soroptimist are now the only active service clubs in Pacific Beach since both the Lions club and the Rotary Club have closed operation.
What are they doing now?
Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students in the world. Currently, Pacific Beach Kiwanis sponsors a Key Club at Mission Bay High School and a Builders Club at Pacific Beach Middle School. The student members assist in service projects, including washing dishes during the spaghetti dinner. PB Kiwanis sponsors the MBHS athletic programs by a donation of $1,700 for spring awards.
The third Thursday of the month, students from Kate Sessions Elementary, Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy and Pacific Beach Elementary receive the Kiwanis Student of the Month award. It’s a community collaboration between Kiwanis, Allstate Pacific Beach (on Lamont Street), Broken Yolk Café and Beach & Bay Press to honor students for their leadership, being a role model and contributing to their community in and out of their classroom.
Each year, the club dedicates one meeting in May for Hope of America awards. Students, parents and principals from the five elementary schools in Pacific Beach are guests at a breakfast meeting. Ten students are recognized each year for outstanding achievements. It’s Kiwanis’ hope to spark a lifelong effort of accomplishment and leadership.
Two to four scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded every year in June to graduating seniors from MBHS. The club had been the host at MBHS for the annual Kiwanis Basketball Tournament in December of each year. This was the longest continuous high school tournament in California, which began in 1946 and is hosted at four school sites. Kiwanis is also contributing $1,000 to baseball boosters at MBHS for a new batting cage facility. Upcoming events
Kiwanis is planning for its inaugural fundraising golf tournament at Mission Bay Golf Course on Friday, May 6.
Kiwanis is supporting Key Club at Miracle Mile of Quarters with Children’s Hospital on Saturday, May 7. This annual fundraiser has benefited Rady Children’s Hospital since 1965.
“Kiwanis,”?reads the group’s mission statement, “is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.” Kiwanis of Pacific Beach seeks to strengthen and build the community and serve the children of Pacific Beach as well. The club could always use more members, businesses and volunteers. Be a part of something positive; give back to the community and have fun doing it.
If you have an idea or a need for a project, or if you’re interested in getting involved, join PB Kiwanis almost any Thursday morning at 7:20 a.m. for breakfast at the Broken Yolk Café on Garnet Avenue. For more information, call (619) 804-4917.