McGaugh Community Pools Effort

Money has been pouring in since the city announced it needed to renovate the public pool at McGaugh Elementary School on Seal Beach Boulevard.

One eager fund-raiser, 7-year-old Katherine Breidling, sold lemonade throughout her summer vacation, spending at least a couple of hours every day at her homemade stand on the boardwalk.

At a recent City Council meeting, Katherine presented the bag of cash to the members.

“I thought it would be thoughtful to give to the pool,” Katherine said. She and a friend, Ariana, sold lemonade for 50 cents a glass until they raised more than $100 for the $130,000 renovation.

“It was difficult. We had to be kind of patient,” she said.

“My friend and some other kids set up a little table. I had a little sign and a cash register and the lemonade on the table.”

Hundreds of other residents also donated money for the 32-year-old outdoor pool, said Carla Watson, the co-chairwoman of the Save Our Pool fund-raising effort.

“It’s one of the touchstones in the community,” Watson said. “Almost all children have gotten their first swimming lessons there.”

It took almost two years to raise the $115,000 from private contributions. The project is estimated to cost $130,000; the city will contribute $15,000.

“Almost all the money has been raised,” Watson said. “Some people gave in [in memory of a deceased loved one], and the largest single donation we received was $12,000 from Bob Griffith who owns [Bob’s Rexall] drugstore.”

In addition to private donations, many nonprofit groups raised money for the pool. Last year a Lions Club Fish Fry raised $7,000, and proceeds from last year’s Founder’s Day also benefited the Save Our Pool Foundation.

“The biggest fund-raiser was the Luau Out” at the pool, said Watson. “It was fun. People came dressed in Hawaiian sarongs and shirts, and we raised $3,500.”

The names of major donors will be on a bronze plaque at the pool. Repairs will include replastering, new tiles, lights and new wooden decks.

The pool is used by more than 100 people every day. Work on the pool will begin later this month and is expected to be completed by mid-December.

One second-grade student at McGaugh is especially looking forward to the completion of the repairs.

“She’s very excited,” said Katherine Breidling’s mother, Elynor. “It’s been a good experience, and she’s already planning another fund drive.”

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Louise Roug can be reached at (714) 966-5977.