Projects We Support
Optimist Youth Homes
The Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services provides comprehensive treatment, specialized education, mental health, and support services to over 500 abused, neglected and at-risk youth and their families. In the Los Angeles area, it operates a residential care facility for 97 boys ages 12-18 in dormitories and independent living units. The agency also cares for 12 boys and 12 girls in group homes. The Foster Family & Adoption Services organization supports 70 children in foster homes and operates a non-public high school serving 180 youngsters. While the majority of funding is provided by county and state agencies, Sunrise Optimists and other clubs throughout Southern California contribute support. To learn more about the work of Optimist Youth Home. Click here.
The Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services provides comprehensive treatment, specialized education, mental health, and support services to over 500 abused, neglected and at-risk youth and their families. In the Los Angeles area, it operates a residential care facility for 97 boys ages 12-18 in dormitories and independent living units. The agency also cares for 12 boys and 12 girls in group homes. The Foster Family & Adoption Services organization supports 70 children in foster homes and operates a non-public high school serving 180 youngsters. While the majority of funding is provided by county and state agencies, Sunrise Optimists and other clubs throughout Southern California contribute support. To learn more about the work of Optimist Youth Home. Click here.
Ventura County Medical Center
Pediatric Oncology Center
Annually, our club contributes funds to Ventura County Medical Center's state-of-the-art Pediatric Oncology Center. Our contribution helps support children's needs as they are being treated for cancer.
Pediatric Oncology Center
Annually, our club contributes funds to Ventura County Medical Center's state-of-the-art Pediatric Oncology Center. Our contribution helps support children's needs as they are being treated for cancer.
Past HOBY students from ECHS
Hugh O'Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Conference
Each year two sophomore students each from El Camino High School and Foothill Technology High School are sponsored by Sunrise Optimists to attend this annual leadership conference. Students spend the weekend with hundreds of other young leaders-in-training learning leadership skills to bring back to their school communities as the greater Ventura area.
Each year two sophomore students each from El Camino High School and Foothill Technology High School are sponsored by Sunrise Optimists to attend this annual leadership conference. Students spend the weekend with hundreds of other young leaders-in-training learning leadership skills to bring back to their school communities as the greater Ventura area.
Club member Marty with Ken Ballou
Project Secure
Project Secure is a Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) pre-vocational program designed for secondary students receiving special education services. Our club makes a yearly contribution to this program. In addition, Project Secure's "secret sauce" is used to marinate the delicious tri-tip roasts that we use to create our tri-tip sandwiches at Ventura High School home football games. Ken Ballou and the Project Secure team also provide us with special Ken's Blend Marinade, which make wonderful holiday gifts. For more information see http://www.venturausd.org/projectsecure.html.
Project Secure is a Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) pre-vocational program designed for secondary students receiving special education services. Our club makes a yearly contribution to this program. In addition, Project Secure's "secret sauce" is used to marinate the delicious tri-tip roasts that we use to create our tri-tip sandwiches at Ventura High School home football games. Ken Ballou and the Project Secure team also provide us with special Ken's Blend Marinade, which make wonderful holiday gifts. For more information see http://www.venturausd.org/projectsecure.html.
Nancy Ballard, Adolescent Family Life Program
Future Vision for Teens
The Adolescent Family Life Program provides comprehensive case management services to pregnant and/or parenting teens. These services include parenting education, assistance in achieving educational goals and help in finding community resources. Our Optimist Club assists in these efforts by contributing to the Reading Is Fundamental program. This program provides books to teens and their children three times a year and instructs them on the importance of reading to their child, which fosters bonding and benefits early brain development in children.
The Adolescent Family Life Program provides comprehensive case management services to pregnant and/or parenting teens. These services include parenting education, assistance in achieving educational goals and help in finding community resources. Our Optimist Club assists in these efforts by contributing to the Reading Is Fundamental program. This program provides books to teens and their children three times a year and instructs them on the importance of reading to their child, which fosters bonding and benefits early brain development in children.
Cheers for Children
The club participates in the Ventura Unified School District's Cheers for Children program, collecting canned goods, contributing funds, and helping to organize and distribute food boxes for needy families. The canned food drive provides baskets of food for local residents in need during the December holidays.
The club participates in the Ventura Unified School District's Cheers for Children program, collecting canned goods, contributing funds, and helping to organize and distribute food boxes for needy families. The canned food drive provides baskets of food for local residents in need during the December holidays.
Happy Sunset School students say "Thank you."
Outdoor Science Education
Sunrise Optimist Club provides supplemental funds for 5th-grade students to attend Outdoor Science Education camp from two VUSD elementary schools. For more information about Outdoor Science education visit http://www.venturausd.org
Sunrise Optimist Club provides supplemental funds for 5th-grade students to attend Outdoor Science Education camp from two VUSD elementary schools. For more information about Outdoor Science education visit http://www.venturausd.org
All-School District Chorus, VUSD
Heidi House, choral teacher for VUSD, directs elementary, middle school and high school choirs. We honored Heidi for her outstanding teaching contributions as our 2012 Educator of the Year and we continue to support these exemplary music opportunities each year.
Heidi House, choral teacher for VUSD, directs elementary, middle school and high school choirs. We honored Heidi for her outstanding teaching contributions as our 2012 Educator of the Year and we continue to support these exemplary music opportunities each year.
Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots program (https://www.toysfortots.org) helps millions of less fortunate children share in the magic of the holidays. The Ventura Sunrise Optimist Club makes a donation to the program and members donate toys each year.
The Marine Toys for Tots program (https://www.toysfortots.org) helps millions of less fortunate children share in the magic of the holidays. The Ventura Sunrise Optimist Club makes a donation to the program and members donate toys each year.
