"Bringing Out The Best
in Youth"
WHO WE ARE
The motto of the Optimist Club of Fort Worth and its’ parent organization, Optimist International, is “Bringing Out the Best in Youth”. We offer significant scholarships to 3 senior student athletes from 14 high schools in the Fort Worth ISD, with finalists from the other 11 schools receiving scholarships as well. We partner with Tarrant County College to provide 5 full scholarships to that school. We also conduct an Optimist Essay Contest that attracts entries across the Greater DFW area with scholarship awards to the top 3 winners.
WHAT WE DO
The Club operates athletic leagues for approximately 1200 youth from ages 6 to 14. These include a PONY League baseball program with 4 co-ed age groups, offered in conjunction with other teams in the Fort Worth area. Our Junior Optimist Club program focuses on primarily underserved youth at 14 elementary schools in the Southside and Northside of Fort Worth with after school athletic activities. These sports include co-ed flag football and soccer and girls’ softball. At the end of the school year, the Outstanding Junior Optimist from each school is recognized at a luncheon. Based on character, athletics, and academics; one student from the North and one from the South is awarded OJO of the Year.
The Club meets for lunch on the first and third Fridays each week to enhance member fellowship and to educate members about numerous activities in the local community. Each meeting includes an interesting speaker with expertise in a particular area, as well as announcements about club activities. We also present the awards to our scholarship and recognition program winners, with their families and academic advisors in attendance.
Our major fundraising activity is our Christmas tree sale at Farrington Field, a Fort Worth ISD football stadium, located at the corner of Lancaster and University.
