​Optimist International celebrates its Centennial in 2019.

The Northridge Optimist Club is active in initiating youth and community projects locally, as well as bringing youth activities organized by Optimist International to the local level. Some examples of the activities that are currently being held are as follows: 

Youth Scholarships - This is our primary focus for serving Northridge area youth. The club oversees two scholarship programs that benefit Northridge High School students. One is funded by club investments with The Dayton Foundation and distributes about $11,000 in scholarship money among several students annually. The other is funded by Cargill Corporation in conjunction with our club and provides two year scholarships of about $1200 per year, per student for up to six students each year. A third scholarship program benefits one or more MVCTC students from the Northridge area with a total of $1500 in scholarships. Over one hundred Northridge students have been awarded scholarships over the past thirty  years.

Optimist International Essay Contest - Optimist International assigns a new topic each year and provides the rules and guidelines for holding this essay contest for students. Our club conducts a local level of the contest in conjunction with Northridge schools.  The winning contestant’s essay is then eligible to compete for scholarship awards with other student essays at the Optimist District (state) level. Our club has also held club level Optimist International Oratorical Contests as well as hosting zone and regional contests.

Christmas Sharing - The club buys food and delivers it to as many as twenty or thirty needy families during the holiday season.

Donations - The club makes donations to several youth and community serving organizations, such as P.A.L., Crayons for Classrooms, and College Promise and also supports various school activities.