BOZEMAN – On Thursday, December 15 at 11:30am, John McFerran, Lieutenant Governor of Optimist Club, will present a Proclamation, A Tribute to 75 Years of Optimist Service to the Bozeman Optimist local chapter. This tribute will take place in the conference room in the southwest entrance of Family Promise, 1603 Tschache Lane.

Founded in 1947, the Optimist Club of Bozeman provides opportunities, activities, camps, areasand materials for youth to develop skills and improve their self-worth and confidence. According to Bob McFadyen, Optimist Club International President, “Since August 13th of 1947 you have been a constant presence in the lives of the fine people in Bozeman. In thousands of ways, both remembered and life changing, you have touched the hearts of people, young and not so young. Through all these years, you have provided hope and positive vision, and in doing do you have continually brought out the best in youth.”

The Bozeman Optimist Club is the oldest Optimist Chapter in Montana. For 75 years, the Club has been a presence in the community, most notably through the annual Garagarama, the annual charity garage sale that has been held the first weekend in April for 57 years, and through the Optimist Park (also known as the Bozeman Ponds), located behind the Gallatin Valley Mall on Fowler Avenue.

Originally donated to the Montana Fish and Game Commission in 1954, the land was originally swamp area for duck hunting until 1986, when the Optimist Club sponsored the first annual Fishing Derby in the original 3 ponds. In 1992, after years of successful Fishing Derbies, the Optimist Club began development of the 3 ponds into the community recreational area that exists today. Construction was completed on the pond in 1996, and the pavilion was finished in 1998. Approximately $500,000 in cash and in-kind donations from the Optimist Club and area businesses were raised to help finance the Optimist Park project.

Currently, the Optimist Club of Bozeman supports several non-profit organizations, serving the needs of over 200 kids and young adults annually. In addition to Garagarama, previously selling Christmas trees, and the Fishing Derby, the Optimist Club of Bozeman sponsors a Warm Clothing drive, which provides warm clothing to children and families in need, a sport scholarship in conjunction with Play It Again Sports to help children afford sports equipment.

To learn more about the impact of Optimist Club of Bozeman or to join, visit https://www.optimistclubofbozeman.org/ or call Amy at 406.599.3535