The International Optimist Club, as the forerunner to Optimist International was known, became a recognizable entity at the first annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Growing with dramatic flourish, the Optimists blossomed into a highly respected and influential group by 1922, boasting 49 clubs and 4,000 members. Seeking to break from the primarily social orientation of the organization, many of OI's visionary leaders endeavoured to change its goals to the much more altruistic objectives that guide the organization today. Optimists throughout the world budget millions of dollars for tens of thousands of youth and community-serving projects annually. Optimists, serving over 3,000,000 young people each year, realize funds for these activities by means of fund-raising projects.
Clubs perform a wide variety of services to the youth of their communities.
One of the most popular is Youth Appreciation Week, held in November, when Optimist clubs recognize the positive achievements of youth in today's society. The Oratorical Contest was first sponsored by Optimist International in 1928, and has met with tremendous success. The contest has become one of the largest of its kind in both the U.S. and Canada. The Help Them Hear program is designed to encourage clubs to become involved with the hearing handicapped. It offers many exciting projects for clubs wishing to have an impact on this problem.