Optimist Clubs are all about helping children reach their full potential

Steve Sinisgalli, President, Optimist Club of Strongsville, Ohio says it all in one line, “Our mission is about using a positive approach to create an optimistic future for our kids."

Yes, very simply, that is what being a part of an Optimist Club is all about. The Strongsville Optimist Club provides for their community in similar ways as most Optimist Clubs. They are hosting the Optimist Oratorical Contest this month for middle school students and every year they give away seven $1,250 scholarships to high school seniors. They contribute to a number of youth-serving causes in their community and host their own Respect for Law and Youth Appreciation activities and help send middle school civics students on a trip to Washington, D.C. This year, with the encouragement of President Steve's seventh grade son they are sponsoring a Junior Optimist Club.

But one project stood out to me as a little bit different from the others. One of their main causes is the Goals Program that serves children with disabilities in the local preschool building by providing developmentally appropriate curriculum for all children. Currently Optimist Club members are Reading Buddies and mentors, and they are in Phase 2 of their project which has them raising money to provide more services to the program.

The mission of the early learning program is “Ensuring All Children Reach Their Fullest Potential" .  I can't think of a better partner for an Optimist Club.