Projects
The Derby Optimist Club plays a very active role in the community, and has specific projects that are worked on throughout the year. Here you'll find a list of some of the larger projects, as well as additional information.
Childhood Cancer Campaign
A major focus of Optimist's worldwide is the fight to end, and help, Childhood Cancer Patients. A few facts about Childhood Cancer:
Did you know that each year more than 12,000 children and teenagers will be diagnosed with cancer? Did you also know that one in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of 20? Because of statistics such as these, Optimist Clubs are encouraged to participate in this (Childhood Cancer) program by building awareness of the disease, providing assistance for children and their families, and supporting research to find a cure.
In December 2001, the Optimist International Board of Directors established the CCC as the organization's primary focus program for the next five years. CCC was also approved as a Community Project Award (CPA) category commencing with the 2002-2003 Optimist year. The CCC program model is built to accentuate four areas
- Support to children diagnosed and receiving treatment for cancer
- Support to families and care partners of children with cancer
- Support to healthcare and service providers
- Support for cancer research
In support of the Childhood Cancer initiative, the Derby Optimist Club has sponsored events with Victory in the Valley, an organization dedicated to the treatment of cancer, as well as donating money to families in need of support.
Always Buckle Children
PURPOSE: To educate the citizens of the community on how children should be restrained in vehicles with passenger-side airbags in order to make it safer for youth in cars. This program is now part of the Youth Safety program.
The Derby Optimist's fund, plan, promote, and conduct at least one child safety-seat check per year, usually during Derby Days. For more information, please see the club's PDF summary of the program.
Essay Contest
This contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. The topic selected each year is intended to give young people the room to develop their own views around a central idea. In addition to the opportunity for written expression, participants have the opportunity to win a college scholarship of up to $5,000! Each year, more than 1,000 Clubs participate in this contest.
The Derby Optimist Club sponsors an Essay Contest each year, rewarding the top male and female speakers each with $500 scholarships and a chance to compete in the regional competition and win additional scholarships.
Fundraising
Fundraising is necessary for every Optimist club in order to run the youth and community programs that is to goal of every club. Without adequate funding the projects cannot be run properly.
The Derby Optimist Club has one major fundraising project that provides adequate funding for most of their Programs. We run a Bingo game on the first, third and fifth Thursday of every month. This is a manpower intensive project, however it prevents the need to run a lot of individual projects.
Optimist Junior Golf
The Optimist Junior Golf Program is an exciting and unique junior golf program for ages 10-18. More than 5,000 boys and girls throughout the United States and Canada and in several foreign countries compete in official Optimist qualifying tournaments. The best of these golfers, along with international golfers from around the globe, advance to the annual Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. Commonly referred to as simply THE OPTIMIST, the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships is one of the largest and most prestigious junior golf events in the world. In addition to top-level tournament golf, participants have the opportunity to meet new friends and to have a great deal of fun. Each year, more than 650 junior golfers from 30 countries participate in THE OPTIMIST.
Oratorical Contest
This speech contest is designed to inspire today’s youth to motivate and inform others through the art of public speaking. It provides young people with the opportunity to compete for a college scholarship and express their views on a pre-assigned topic.
This program consists of two parts:
1) the Oratorical Contest for children under age 16
2) Kids Speak Out for younger children.
Clubs can choose to offer either one or both of these programs depending upon the ages of the children involved.