Two communities in San Diego have decided to come together around a cause inspired by fallen community activist and former Mission Bay High School principal, Maruta Gardner. On Nov. 3, participating organizations are holding a “Day of Service” to inspire future leaders, and the community to make a positive impact.
Along with the Day of Service, a mural in memory of Gardner, and in the spirit of inspiring community service, designed by Israel (Ezra) Cervantes, will be dedicated at Mission Bay High School. It is also being painted with the help of the Mission Bay High Mural Club.
“Friday, we are hosting a number of events as part of our Day of Service, and anyone from the community, from military members to high school students are invited and encouraged to participate in one of the day’s service projects, which start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. around Mission Beach and Pacific Beach,” said Dawn Reilly, project administrator for BeautifulMB.  
Community service projects include a cleanup around the Rose Creek and Crown Point Preserve areas, weeding and cleanup along the sidewalks, streets, and alleys in the business districts around Pacific Beach and Mission Beach, utility box painting and sealing along Mission Boulevard, anti-graffiti cleaning around the community (something that was very important to Gardner), and conversation and companionship at a local senior center.
The day’s events will kick off with a dedication of a mural at Mission Bay High – inspiring community service in Gardner’s honor at 9 a.m. Attendees will be treated to coffee and pastries from local businesses Swell Coffee Co., and Olive Bakery. As a special treat, guests will also be able to add to the mural, painting flowers in honor of beautifying the city or in honor of a loved one.
“There’s no better way to bring our community together, than to come out and participate in service projects,” says John Vallas, a local business owner and one of the founders of BeautifulMB, along with Gina Champion-Cain, another local business owner. “We started BeautifulMB for this very reason, to improve and beautify our community, and what a special way to do this on Maruta Gardner Day.”
The City of San Diego in 2015 declared Nov. 3 as Maruta Gardner Day in recognition of Gardner’s years of service to the community through the Women’s Club, for her graffiti eradication work, and for her most recent effort to upgrade the playground at Bonita Cove through the “Play by the Bay” fundraising effort. Gardner also served the community through education, as an administrator for San Diego Unified School District, as well as consulting at San Diego State University.
Anyone interested in participating or contributing to the Maruta Gardner “Day of Service” events are encouraged to visit www.beautifulmb.com, or BeautifulMB’s facebook event page for more information.
Participating community organizations include the Mission Beach Town Council, Pacific Beach Town Council, OMBAC, Mission Beach Women’s Club, BeautifulPB, BeautifulMB, PB Street Guardians, PB Library, Friends of PB Library, Mission Bay High School, Olive Cafe & Bakery, and ANOC World Beach Games 2019.