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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:
Due to the pandemic, some programs have been been effected. The status of each program is noted in the program descriptions below.
Youth Scholarships - 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 $7,000 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 two students each year. Over three hundred Northridge students have been awarded scholarships over the past thirty plus years.

(Despite the COVID pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 scholarships have been awarded as usual, and are planned for 2022 as well.)
Northridge Polar Bear Foundation Fund - The Northridge Polar Bear Foundation Fund was started by Northridge Local Schools with The Dayton Foundation for funding school related programs that were not covered by school district budgets. The fund was started with an initial investment donated by Northridge Optimist Club, and the club donates to this fund on an ongoing basis. The disbursement of funds is handled as a grant process, with Northridge Optimist members serving on an  advisory committee that evaluates applications for funds, providing about $4500 per school year for various educational enhancements.

(Grants were awarded as usual during the 2020-2021 school year, and are planned as usual for 2021-2021).
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 a selected grade class in 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.

(The club 2021 contest was not completed, and the 2022 plans are currently on hold).  
Christmas Sharing - The club buys food and delivers it to as many as twenty needy families during the holiday season. The Denny Mantel Christmas Sharing Fund is established for this purpose.

Due to the pandemic precautions, a different format was devised for the 2020 holidays. Instead of volunteers gathering in groups and shopping, the club provided gift certificates for the families. Despite the challenge of continuing the annual program under the conditions of limited contact that have been in place because of the pandemic, the club succeeded in providing over $3000 of holiday assistance to 21 families in need.  With the help of the school, a procedure was set up distribute gifts for the families that were selected by the school. All of the gifts were distributed before Christmas. The club plans to continue the program in 2021.
Donations - The club makes donations to several youth and community serving organizations, such as, Crayons for Classrooms, College Promise and also supports various school activities.

Club donations have continued despite the pandemic.
Funding of Activities - The proceeds of the annual Northridge Optimist Scramble* are used to fund the Northridge Polar Bear Foundation Fund and activities such as the Optimist Essay Contest, our Christmas Sharing program, and various other community donations. The scholarships are funded by The Optimist Club of Dayton-Northridge Scholarship Fund, a component fund of The Dayton Foundation, and also the Sharron Braun/Cargill Northridge Optimist Scholarship Fund. 

*The golf outing was cancelled for 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic precautions. The Northridge Polar Bear Foundation Fund is instead being supported by donations.