Long Beach Couple Go 'Way Above And Beyond Civic Invovlement'

LONG BEACH, CA — Without community leaders, Long Beach wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from David W. Betterton, a Long Beach reader who nominated Mauna Eichner and Lee Fukui (wife & husband team).

How do you know this community leader?

We live in the same Wrigley neighborhood in Long Beach, California.

What does this community leader do?

As individual citizens, they go way way above and beyond civic involvement to improve, maintain, and enhance our neighborhood and city.

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

We Long Beachers have them to thank for: not only finessing the funding and City support for trees in our neighborhood, but they are responsible for planting hundreds, plus personally watering many of them, They also have trimmed them. They have been instrumental in dealing with our local City Council and City Planning to promote and protect eco-friendly development. They have personally taken on the care, protection, and promotion of Willow Springs Park.

They have been extremely instrumental with the Long Beach Heritage Foundation in promoting Long Beach Legacy Business Program, to recognize and promote longtime establishments that contribute to our city’s culture and identity. I can guarantee you that there is more, but this is all I know about at this moment. My wife and I discuss on a fairly regular basis how lucky we are to have them as neighbors. We are often the recipients of the fruits of their labors of love, as we perambulate the streets of the Wrigley. And they do it out of a sense of civic obligation--they do not get paid for their efforts.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

That our individual lives and our neighborhood and city are all the better for having them as our neighbors.

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Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.