About

Welcome!  The Springfield Westside Optimist has been helping kids in Springfield and the Ozarks since 1958.

The Optimist’s mission is in “Bringing out the Best in Kids.” That’s what Optimists do best.  Through our programs and activities, we provide the experience with support for young people to grow and develop Optimism. Optimism builds character, self- confidence and the ability to become contributing members of our communities.

Our current projects:

By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

Member Ceremony

Vision Statement

Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.

Purposes of an Optimist Club

  • To develop optimism as a philosophy of life, utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
  • To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs;
  • To inspire respect for the law;
  • To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people;
  • To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life, and the world.

Springfield Westside Optimist

Meeting Details:  

The Hill) – 1st and 3rd Monday each month (11:45am – 1 pm)

As an Optimist International Club, our focus will be to help develop activities and services independently as well as alongside other civic organizations that will further Optimist International’s goals to help benefit kids in our area.

In addition to owning the Westside Optimist ball field, we have established partnerships with CASA of Southwest Missouri and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks and created two annual fund-raising events.

We are continuing to grow our membership and look for other opportunities to help bring out the best in kids in the Ozarks and around the world!

The Springfield Westside Optimist Club is a service club that hosts fundraisers for children’s charities and projects helping local kids every year. Recently we have supported Big Brothers Big Sister, CASA, Wish I May, Bridges For Youth and many more organizations doing great work for kids in our area. Our Club also owns the Westside Optimist Baseball Complex which has baseball leagues for kids on 3 fields at 3250 W. Grand.

Club members are best known in their communities for their upbeat attitudes. By believing in young people and empowering them to be the best they can, Optimist volunteers continually make this world a better place in which to live.

Founding date
1958

Westside Optimist Grill Team Having Fun

Optimist International

General Information
There are 87,000 individual members who belong to 2,900 autonomous Clubs. Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects each year, serving six million young people. Optimists also spend $78 million on their communities annually.

Optimist International officially sponsors several International Programs:

  • Childhood Cancer Campaign
  • Internet Safety
  • Optimist International Junior Golf Championships
  • The organization’s scholarship contests
    • Essay Contest
    • Oratorical Contest
    • And Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

In addition, Optimist International encourages involvement in several other community activities: 

  • Respect for Law/Promotion of Non-Violence
  • Tri-Star Sports Skills Challenges
  • Youth Appreciation
  • Youth Safety 

Annually, six million kids are positively affected by Optimist programs!