Optimist Club teams up with Big Brothers Big Sisters

A group of Cape Girardeau and Jackson community members have announced they have formed the Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club to conduct positive service projects to benefit area youth and community. The Evening Optimist Club is affiliated with Optimist International, one of the world's largest and most active service club organizations.

With more than 115,000 members in 3,500 Optimist Clubs across the United States, Canada and other nations, Optimist Clubs conduct a wide range of positive service projects reaching more than six million young people each year.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest provider of one-on-one youth mentoring services in the United States. For over 100 years Big Brothers Big Sisters has matched youth with a positive adult role model known as a "Big." Studies show that youth who are paired with "Bigs" are 45 percent less likely to start using drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking. Studies also have shown that youth matched with "Bigs" are less likely to skip class.

Officers elected to lead the Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club during its first year were Henry Adams, president; Michelle Gates, secretary treasurer and Sara Hardin, vice president. Board members to assist the officers are: Robert Adams, Keith Barnett, Megan Beggs, Maeggan Cooper, Sarah Culbertson, Sahar Dorris, Sean Fitzgerald, John Gerdes, Nacy Goetz, Glenda Greiwe, Amy Kasten, Mark Kasten, Jason Lee, Michelle Markovich, Tracey Mohldzain, Michelle Pinkley, Barb Randolph, Sara Scheper, Samantha Simmons, Alison Staggs, Tammie Stenger and Aaron Walker.

The new Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club will help provide positive programs to area youth through its mentoring programs. This is only the third such partnership between the Optimist Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the country.

By partnering and forming a new organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Optimist Club aim to achieve their goals of helping youth get on the right path to succeed.

Southeast Missourian

A group of Cape Girardeau and Jackson community members have announced they have formed the Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club to conduct positive service projects to benefit area youth and community. The Evening Optimist Club is affiliated with Optimist International, one of the world's largest and most active service club organizations.

With more than 115,000 members in 3,500 Optimist Clubs across the United States, Canada and other nations, Optimist Clubs conduct a wide range of positive service projects reaching more than six million young people each year.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest provider of one-on-one youth mentoring services in the United States. For over 100 years Big Brothers Big Sisters has matched youth with a positive adult role model known as a "Big." Studies show that youth who are paired with "Bigs" are 45 percent less likely to start using drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking. Studies also have shown that youth matched with "Bigs" are less likely to skip class.

Officers elected to lead the Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club during its first year were Henry Adams, president; Michelle Gates, secretary treasurer and Sara Hardin, vice president. Board members to assist the officers are: Robert Adams, Keith Barnett, Megan Beggs, Maeggan Cooper, Sarah Culbertson, Sahar Dorris, Sean Fitzgerald, John Gerdes, Nacy Goetz, Glenda Greiwe, Amy Kasten, Mark Kasten, Jason Lee, Michelle Markovich, Tracey Mohldzain, Michelle Pinkley, Barb Randolph, Sara Scheper, Samantha Simmons, Alison Staggs, Tammie Stenger and Aaron Walker.

The new Big Brothers Big Sisters Optimist Club will help provide positive programs to area youth through its mentoring programs. This is only the third such partnership between the Optimist Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the country.

By partnering and forming a new organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Optimist Club aim to achieve their goals of helping youth get on the right path to succeed.