Great Falls Optimist Club

Spring Festival

May 4, 2008

11:30 - 4:00

Rides, games, food,

treasure hunt, raffle and more!

Accomplishments

This list highlights some of our significant and recent accomplishments. Our activities focus on aiding and encouraging the development of local youth, and enhancing the sense of community in Great Falls. We:

-  co-sponsor with Adeler Jewelers, organize and staff the Spring Festival. With the help of dozens of volunteers, we hold an egg hunt with 8,000 eggs filled with candy and gems; provide carnival rides and games;

-  help staff the Fall Festival for children, which is organized and sponsored by the Great Falls Friends. Hill Signature Portraits is on hand each year to take photographs, and donates all profits to the Great Falls Optimist Club;

-  provide Thanksgiving dinners to several dozen families in the community;

-  provide holiday meals and gifts to families living in the community, in conjunction with the National Council of Jewish Women’s (NCJW) Northern Virginia Section;

-  supported two Fairfax County schools serving children with emotional disabilities; Armstrong Center and Herndon Center. During each of the past two years, we donated two LCD projectors, eight bookcases and twelve portable instructional keyboards for use in the classrooms. Members also mentored students at the Centers;

- contributed donations to Operation Smile, a floating dental charity that performs plastic surgery for children with oral deformities living in third world countries. One of our members, Dr. Michael McCombs, also participates directly, by providing orthodontic services through this program;

- orchestrated the funding and construction of the Great Falls Playground which is located between the library and grange;

- help sell Christmas Trees at Krops Crops each year, and the farm then makes a significant annual contribution to the club;

- donated over 500 books to the Fairfax County Detention Center and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, D.C.

- support Special Olympics and participated in coaching the Special Olympics Softball Team;

- support local Scout troops as well as Little League Teams;

- contributed to the Analemma Society in support of their work to develop an astronomy education center and year-round activities for our community;

- contributed to the funding of Leo Santabello Park, which is located next to the library;

- contribute to the International Optimists “Pave the Way” Foundation, which provides ongoing scholarships for higher education;

- contribute to and participate in Habitat for Humanity, Save the Farm and Turner Farm Park, Brogue Charities, the Fourth of July Celebration and Great Falls Friends, all of which undertake activities to benefit local youth;

- honored local police and emergency personnel for their many contributions to the community;

- conducted International Optimists Oratorical Contests for students up to age 15, with winners at the District level receiving scholarships for college from the International Optimists;

- donated to Children’s Hospital 8,000 eggs stuffed with candy at Easter;

 The activities and contributions of the Great Falls Optimist Club are funded by contributions as well as fundraising activities, which include the sale of photographs by Hill Portrait Studios at the Fall Festival; ticket sales at the Spring Festival; in addition to contributions from individuals, business and professional organizations.