Optimist Club of Huntsville

Bringing Out the Best in Youth

By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities, and ourselves.


Our Major Programs


Scholarship Contests

Excellent communication skills are high on the list of sought-after qualities for job applicants. The ability to communicate orally and in writing is stressed in almost every job description.


The Essay Contest is designed to give young people the opportunity to write on a provided theme. In addition to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship of $2,500.


The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to gain experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience. The Oratorical Contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships up to $22,500.

Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest

Be creative and have fun by entering our annual Virtual Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.


The entries will be judged in three age groups: 6 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 13.


Using only chalk. (In October, a free set of chalk may be obtained at the Optimist Recreational Center, 703 Oakwood Ave NE, Huntsville, AL) the child makes a creation on their sidewalk or driveway based on the theme given in the registration form. They take a photo of themselves with their creation and a photo of a signed and filled out registration form. Then they submit their photos to the email address on the registration form. The artworks are judged by a panel of three judges and gift cards are awarded for the top three winners in each age group.


The contest is held in October each year.

Kids Speak Out Contest

The Optimist Club of Huntsville holds an Oratorical Contest each year for middle School and high school youth.

The “Kids Speak Out” contest is a “Pre-oratorical” program for kids through the age of eleven that provides a more equitable competition for our younger speakers.



The real test of this program is not who wins, but rather providing the opportunity for boys and girls to gain experience in speaking to an audience.


S.T.E.M.

The STEM Grant Program was initiated in the fall of 2016 by the Club. The program’s purpose is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education by funding STEM projects in public schools that would otherwise go unfunded.

Grant applications are solicited in October and grants issued the following December.

Band Instruments

The value of the arts in education is something that the Optimist Club of Huntsville takes very seriously. The club feels that every child deserves the chance to play a musical instrument. Our Club has established a Band Instrument Loan program. We have 250 instruments that we loan to middle school students at no cost.

The middle school band director identifies the need and the Optimist Club loans the instrument. The Optimist Club of Huntsville assumes maintenance and repair of all instruments.

Junior Optimist Clubs (JOI)

JOI stands for Junior Optimist International, and it is a service-learning organization that connects all of the Optimist JOI Clubs throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.


JOI is an all-inclusive youth organization sponsored by Optimist International. Our organization embodies the Optimist Creed, which motivates us to embrace positive values like optimism and respect for ourselves and others while engaging in community service.

The purpose of an Optimist Club

To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; to aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself


To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.


To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.


To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.


To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.


To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.


To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.


To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.


To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.


To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.


To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.