The Mission Beach Women’s Club (MBWC) raised $27,000 and counting at its annual April 5 fundraiser at Mission Bay Yacht Club to aid the local, selfless heroes of Pacific Beach Fire Station 21.
The fundraiser was hugely successful, said Maruta Gardner, past women’s club president and fundraising co-chairwoman, along with Phylicia Cicalo-Aiken.
 “We had a silent auction and games with 284 donated items largely from businesses and people in the community,” said Gardner. “It was amazing. The support we got from the community, with about 350 people attending at the Mission Bay Yacht Club, which is a great venue donated to our club as their contribution.”
Donated items for the fundraiser included tickets to the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Zoo.
Firefighters now join a select group of recipients of MBWC’s largesse over the years, which has included the San Diego Junior Lifeguards program, the music program at Mission Bay High School, the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP), lighting along the Mission Beach boardwalk and a canine for the San Diego Police Department.
Gardner said Fire Station 21 was selected as this year’s fundraising benefactor because “the city just isn’t able to provide them with all the things they need. This is our fire station and it covers all of PB, south La Jolla and all of Mission Beach.”
Pacific Beach firefighters, who sometimes work 24-hour shifts, will put such donated funds to good use.
“The money will go for new Tempur-Pedic mattresses and new refrigerators, as well as helmet lights, fencing for their parking lot and a rowing machine to complete their work station at the command center,” said Gardner. “Those things make their fire station more comfortable and their work environment better for them.”
MBWC presently has about 120 members. Members nominate organizations each year that the group feels are deserving to be recipients of the club’s annual fundraiser profits. Gardner said the recipient group is selected in December by a club committee.
Established in 1926, the MBWC is the oldest philanthropic social organization in Mission Beach, said Gardner. The club “gives away anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 every year to different charitable organizations in the community.”
The club is continuing to accept tax-deductible donations for PB firefighters. Those wishing to contribute can do so at: Mission Beach Women’s Club, 840 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, 92109.
For more information about the club, visit www.mbwc.org.