Oratorical Contest

The Oratorical Contest is an annual competition for middle and high school students who were under the age of 19 in the current year. The following is the necessary information for interested students.I It requires The speech must be 4 to 5 minutes long.

All students will receive a participation certificate. The top three winners will also receive the following:

1^st Place: $500 cash award plus a gold medal

2^nd Place: $250 cash award plus a silver medal

3^rd Place: $125 cash award plus a bronze medal

The top two winners go on to the zone contest.

The district winner will go on to the international contest . Students can win up to $22,500 in scholarship awards.

Essay Contest

The Optimist Club of Littleton is sponsoring the annual Optimist International Essay Contest

Cash prizes for first place $500, second $250 and third $125 will be awarded at the Littleton Club contest

Contestants have the opportunity to write their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. Essays may encompass a student’s personal experiences, their hopes for the future, or a more historical perspective.

In addition to developing skills for written expression and the opportunity to win a scholarship, students' participation can be a positive accomplishment to include in their applications for college enrollment or other scholarships.

Contestants must be under the age of 19 as of October of the current year

There is no minimum age, younger students have won the Optimist Club of Littleton’s contest.

Village Pre School --- Mittens and Gloves

Many children attend a pre-school at Village while their parents are in classes there. They often come from needy families. Each winter the club collects gloves and mittens. Then our members – often with their spouses – get together and sew simple fleece hats for the children.

Club members take these to the pre-school one morning in the cold of winter and usually read the class a story in addition to giving them the hats and mittens.

Youth Appreciation Day

The Youth Appreciation program recognizes local youth for their efforts in the arts, athletics, academics and community service work. Youth Appreciation is the perfect opportunity for Optimists to make a difference in their community and demonstrate the Optimists’ commitment to young people. Youth Appreciation projects are intended to make children feel important and highlight their positive contributions to society. Since 1956, this program has given Optimist Clubs the occasion to work with youth toward the common goals of education, career development, physical well-being and community service. This is the most popular Optimist International program with more than 2,000 Clubs participating each year

Tutoring and Mentoring
A number of our club members volunteer to be a mentor for an individual student through the entire school year. Other members volunteer to help individual students as tutors in what has become the Homework Club. Additional volunteers serve as storytellers in elementary schools through an organization known as Spellbinders.

Meals-on-Wheels
Twice a week, every week throughout the year, several club teams take turns delivering hot lunches to many senior residents in the Littleton Housing Authority apartments Allyson Court and Bradley House.

Respect for Law Week
In May, George Ackerman invites deserving law enforcement professionals from the community to be recognized and honored at one of our weekly breakfasts.

International Junior Golf Championships
Every year more than 200 boys and girls compete in Colorado/Wyoming District qualifying golf tournament. The best of the golfers advance to the OI Junior Golf Championships usually held in Florida.

Brats and Hotdogs Raising Funds : Western Welcome Week

The club has a booth each summer during Western Welcome Week parade downtown Littleton. We sell brats, hotdogs, chips and soft drinks to raise funds for our youth projects. Plus we shout and wave at the parade floats and tell funny stories. Great organization builder.

Pride in America (Flag) Program
For exactly 50 years the club has been posting American flags in front of businesses and offices in downtown Littleton on about ten holidays per year. This project gives the city a patriotic appearance on the designated days and serves as a fund-raising activity. Currently, about 70 subscribers make an annual contribution to the club to participate in the program. Teams of two or three club members set up flags early in the morning and pick them up in the evening. All proceeds go to the support of the club’s youth and community activities.