Hire an optimist

If you live in the Whitewater, Wisconsin area, here is a deal that you don't want to miss! Hire an optimist and you'll help support the University of Whitewater Student Optimist Club's service learning trip to Burkina Faso. Your contribution is tax deductible, you'll get some chores done around your home or business and the community of Burkina Faso will benefit from the talent and passion of some fabulous young people.


The UW-W Student Optimist Club has a history of making mission-style trips. in 2012 they worked with an orphanage, multiple schools and many underprivileged youth in four regions of Ecuador. While the onsite work is rewarding for both the students and beneficiaries, much goes on behind the scenes as well as the students prepare to go. Not only do they fund raise for expenses, they raise money to purchase needed supplies, hold clothing drives and learn about the region they will be serving.

In Burkina Faso, the group of students will be:

• Building computer lab
• Creating sustainable gardens
• Building a Student Optimist Club
• Delivering soccer balls and interacting with children 
• Delivering medical supplies, equipment and knowledge 
• Delivering educational supplies and hygiene supplies

But before they leave, they must raise enough money to ship an ambulance to Dedougou. It will be the first emergency vehicle in the African community. 

Find out more about the trip and how you can contribute to the Student Optimist Club's success: 

Download a flyer

Visit the UW-Whitewater Student Optimist Club blog

Or make a donation to the UW-Whitewater Student Optimist Club Service Learning Trip to Burkina Faso by sending a check to:

Optimist International Foundation

c/o Kim Adams

800 W. Main St. UC 250

Whitewater, WI 53190

Optimist Clubs at the Minnesota State Fair

For twelve days, Optimist Club members in Minnesota have taken to the State Fair. Running from August 22 to September 2, 2013, several different Minnesota Optimist Clubs will be hosting a booth in search of new members. They'll also share the projects that stir their passion and interests and generally let others know about the good things that Optimist Clubs do in their communities. They'll let kids know how to participate in the scholarship programs and adults will learn how to join or contribute and be a part of the most positive movement in town.

But what I found especially cool about this project is that it is being documented with a video tribute called "Optimists at the Fair." The video below was posted by My Music Matters Radio Show; however, more videos can be found on Facebook uploaded by Kelly Casey.  She's posting a new one every day.

Sharing the Optimist Club story with potential new members is essential and the Minnesota Optimist Clubs have proved that it can also be fun. You want to join now, don't you?