PROGRAMS:
Essay Contest
Each winter, the Leesburg Optimist Club holds an essay contest for juniors and seniors at Loudoun County HS, Heritage HS, Dominion HS, and Tuscarora HS. This contest requires students under the age of 19 to compose a 700- to 800-word essay around a central idea to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. The top essay from each school is awarded a $500 scholarship toward their college education.
The top overall essay moves on to the District contest and then possibly to the Optimist International contest, with additional scholarship opportunities of increasing values at each level.
The topic for the 2011 Essay Contest was "How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future" Congratulations to our 2011 winner, Matthew Holton from Heritage HS!
The topic for the 2012 Essay Contest will be "How My Positive Outlook Benefits my Community".
All Night Graduation
Every June, the Leesburg Optimist Club supports the Loudoun County HS All Night Graduation Party. This is designed to provide a safe, alcohol-free place for seniors to celebrate their success and is held annually at Ira Lee Recreation Center for graduating seniors sponsored by the PTSA.
The Leesburg Optimist Club provides manpower to run the “casino night” activities by dealing Back Jack and Texas Hold’em for the kids. This is truly one of the most enjoyable events of the year as we get to interact with our future leaders in a fun and relaxing atmosphere before they head off the college.
Loudoun County Fair Kids’ Day FREE Games
Each July at the Loudoun County Fair on the Fair-designated Kids’ Day, the Leesburg Optimist Club sets up a tent and offers FREE games and face painting for kids up to age 14 from 10:30am until the midway opens.
Middle School Teen Night
In partnership with Loudoun County Parks & Rec, the Optimists assist in this event held every third Friday evening at Claude Moore Recreation Center from Sept-May. Planned activities which change from week to week include: swimming, movies, dancing, fashion shows, contests, tournaments and games. This event positively impacts the community in two ways; as many as 100 to 150 kids benefit from this program every Friday throughout the school year, and though volunteerism it reduces the tax burden on the county tax payers by allowing this activity to continue without the use of county staff/funds.
Easter Egg Hunt
In partnership with Loudoun County Parks & Rec, the Optimists assist in this event held at Ida Lee Park each Easter season by playing the role of “egg guards”, ensuring an orderly and fair event is available to each child who participates.
Freeze Your Gizzard Kids Fun Run
Again in partnership with Loudoun County Parks & Rec, the Optimists help staff this Thanksgiving season event held at Ida Lee Park by manning the course and ensuring the runners stay on course, handing out metals to the winners of the children’s division runners, and other assorted tasks.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas the Leesburg Optimist Club volunteers our time by providing a full day’s coverage of bell ringing at a Salvation Army kettle location in Leesburg.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
In addition to our programs and partnerships, we also support the youth of the community by financial means. We have sponsored a CLBL Travel team each year, contributed to Optimist Junior Golf, filled Holiday Coalition stockings and sponsored People to People Ambassador students from Loudoun County HS to name just a few.
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY)
For over 50 years HOBY has been known as the country’s top youth leadership development organization. Founded in 1958 by veteran actor Hugh O’Brian, HOBY’s mission is to provide lifelong leadership development opportunities that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential. O’Brian set out to help young people make a difference and become positive catalysts for change—in the home, school, workplace, and community. Now, with more than 375,000 alumni leading the way, HOBY is respected worldwide for its youth leadership programs.
Each high school can nominate one sophomore to attend the HOBY conference each year. The Leesburg Optimist Club sponsors the student from Loudoun County, Heritage and Dominion High Schools by covering their application and registration fees.
FUNDRAISING:
Childhood Cancer Campaign
"Providing the Care ... Finding the Cure"
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?
Due to statistics such as these, the Leesburg optimist Club supports this Optimist International program by placing donation “piggy banks” at several establishments in Leesburg. 100% of all funds raised goes directly to this program. These are the only funds raised by the Leesburg Optimist Club though our various fundraising activities that leave the community.
Golf Tournament
As one of our primary fundraising vehicles, each fall the Leesburg Optimist Club holds an annual golf tournament. For the last several years, it has been held at Stoneleigh Country Club in Round Hill, VA. See our calendar for the date of this year’s tourney, which has been moved to the Spring beginning in 2011.
Loudoun County Fair Food Concessions
Our other primary fundraising “vehicle” is the Opti-bus! If you have been to the Loudoun County Fair, you probably have seen our purple bus selling concessions directly behind our Kids’ Day tent. We sell hot dogs, pork BBQ sandwiches and assorted sides and drinks at fair-best, family-friendly prices.
All proceeds from both of these fundraisers stays in Loudoun County to support the youth of the community.
