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Club donations & sponsorship activities

Over the past 80+ years our club has existed, we have partnered with and provided financial support to thousands of youth-oriented groups, community-based organizations, and educational institutions.

Below is a list of some of the organizations our club has provided financial and programming support to in the past few years
Education

Alberta International Band Festivals

  • It is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a performance platform for outstanding junior high/middle school, high school, and community bands. Festivals are held each year in Calgary and Edmonton. Organizers are committed to providing participants with a valuable and stimulating educational experience.

BRAVE Education for Trafficking Prevention

  • BRAVE Education exists to fill a need in the field of human trafficking prevention education with younger people.

Banbury Crossroads School Society

  • Banbury Crossroads is an accredited, self-directed learning school from pre-K to Grade 12, including a full day Kindergarten program.

Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop

  • For over 40 years this organization has been providing the opportunity to learn, share and make friends through music for students between grades 5 to adult.  Professional teachers, clinicians, and musicians from across Canada run workshops during the summer designed to bring out musical talents while having fun at the same time. The Optimist Club of Calgary has been a sponsor of this event for over 38 years and Optimist club member Nicole Haycock is one of the organizers.

Calgary Stampede Foundation’s “Stampede School” Program

  • The Calgary Stampede Foundation is committed to providing the youth of Alberta with the opportunity to develop strong roots in their culture and heritage through programs that enhance their leadership skills, personal growth, citizenship, and education.

Patrick Airlie High School

  • Patrick Airlie High Schools is located in the Forest Lawn community in Calgary.  Over the years, funding has been given to provide financial support to families in a variety of school programs.

Pacekids Society for Children with Special Needs

  • Created in 1994 by a passionate group of parents who wanted to see their children thrive, Pacekids Programs has impacted the lives of thousands of children and families through an Alberta Education licensed Early Childhood Services (ECS) program and a variety of Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) funded in-home and in-community programs.

Sports
  • Alberta U-18 Curling Championships

  • Southern Alberta Junior Golf QualifyingTournament

  • Southern Alberta Introduction Tournament Golf Championships

  • Optimist International Junior Golf Championships

  • Canadian ADaptive Snowsports (CADS)

Learn more in our Sports program area.

Community

Calgary Food Bank

  • The Calgary Food Bank is the first line of emergency food support for families and individuals facing crisis.

Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation

  • The mission of Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation is to invest today for the future of our youth by seeking and managing funds through collaboration with Canadian Optimist Clubs and their communities, by supporting Clubs to create opportunities that will enhance quality of life, improve health and wellness and inspire our youth.

Calgary Performing Arts Festival

  • The Calgary Performing Arts Festival (CPAF) is a non-profit organization and is 90 years young in Calgary. Formerly known as the Kiwanis Festival, CPAF is an integral part of Calgary's arts, music & culture community. It is committed to celebrating amateur performers of all ages and skill levels. CPAF offers invaluable self-development and performing artist growth opportunities through its unique three-week adjudicated 'performing arts' festival. Areas of interest include a multitude and variety of classical music, music, musical theatre, vocal and/or spoken word.

Women’s Centre “Christmas Toy Drive”

  • The holidays can be a difficult time for many, and thousands of women in Calgary struggle to afford holiday gifts for their children. The Women’s Centre Holiday Toy Room helps women and families by operating a gift program, where women are able to choose a holiday gift for their children as well as a gift for themselves.

Bowness High School’s Random Acts of Kindness Program”

  • This program provides needed financial support through a gift card program to single parent and multi-generational families during the Christmas season.

The Doorway – “Supporting Young People”

  • The Doorway is a direct community response to young people on the street in Calgary choosing to rejoin society. Their approach engages both young people living on the streets and mainstream community members in a self-determined planning process and cross-cultural exchange to make these lasting changes.

Looking for financial support?

We actively raise and award funds to support local youth-based programs and initiatives. If your group or organization needs financial support you can apply for our optimist charitable donation grant.
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Optimist International is recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all youth and helps them develop to their full potential.

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