It is my honor to name Cathy Ives as my June 2024 Community Champion of the Month in the 38th Senate District for her commitment to environmental stewardship in San Diego. For decades‚ Cathy has spent nearly every morning cleaning up trash at Mission Beach.

Cathy co-founded the nonprofit Don’t Trash Mission Beach to bring awareness and educate the public about the hazards of beach trash. The organization is committed to fostering a sense of pride in the Mission Beach community and advocating for personal responsibility through beach cleanup events.

On average‚ Cathy and her team pick up to 150 pounds of trash daily on one small stretch of beach. Cathy logs every item she collects‚ which typically includes food waste‚ glass bottles‚ beach toys‚ shoes‚ clothing‚ and towels. She documents the extravagant amount of items she collects on her website https://www.donttrashmissionbeach.com/ and her Instagram @donttrashmissionbeach.

[Cathy] is committed to fostering a sense of pride in the Mission Beach community and advocating for personal responsibility through beach cleanup events.

Like most great leaders‚ Cathy recognizes that true success comes from the constant dedication of the team that has supported her over the years. Many community members pick up trash on their morning walks‚ demonstrating the continuous effort required to keep our beaches clean. Cathy would like to recognize and thank Emma‚ Tray‚ Patrick‚ Katy‚ Kerry‚ Tim‚ Tony‚ Andy‚ and others for their support.

Cathy embodies the spirit of environmentalism that is vital to preserving our beaches and public spaces. Her tireless efforts and relentless commitment to keeping Mission Beach clean is why she is my June 2024 Champion of the Month. Thank you Cathy!