It’s A Golden Jubilee Celebrating 50 Years of Optimist International Foundation by Megan Pellock
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n the last 100 plus years, Optimist International has given back to the youth in communities across the world. However, without the help of Optimist International Foundation, Optimist International would not have made as large an impact. From providing funding to Club grants and scholarships to supporting Junior Optimist International ( JOI) Clubs, Optimist International Foundation has been there to make those dreams a reality. In 1969, a planning committee was established by Optimist International President Monroe Marlow. The purpose was to look at the key issues and needs that the organization was facing. That led to the formation of Optimist International Foundation (OIF), a 501(c)(3) organization serving exclusively the charitable, literary, and educational purposes of Optimist International. It was later established with the Articles of Incorporation signed on February 18, 1971 by Charles C. Campbell, Monroe Marlowe, and Hugh H. Cranford. These three along with Norman L. Shipley and Gene H. Sternberg, Sr. formed the first OIF Board of Directors in 1970. During its first years, it supported Optimist
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International through the Oratorical scholarships. In the first year, the Foundation raised over $15,500. Within in the first decade of its founding, the Foundation raised one million dollars. Fifty (50) years later, OIF is still a key partner with Optimist International,funding the Optimist International Essay, CCDHH, and Oratorical scholarships as well as supporting JOI programs, and is a major underwriter of the World Oratorical Championship. Fundraising opportunities through OIF include Dime a Day, Presidents Club, Friends of Tomorrow, and Christian D. Larson Awards. “The Foundation is an essential partner with Optimist International, providing funding for scholarships, JOI programs, Club programs, and other initiatives.” Jan Oord Graves, the President of Optimist International Foundation said, “OIF is the charitable arm of Optimist International raising the funds to support all of our youth programs.” Without the work of the Foundation, and the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation, Oratorical and other scholarship contests would not be as
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The Foundation has a 50 year history of supporting Clubs and programs and they are looking to be even stronger.”
