Upcoming Events
Our upcoming 2024 events include the Youth Appreciation Scholarship Dinner on November 7th and the Centennial Gala on December 5th. Each of these events will be held at the Town & Country Club and are open to both members and the public. Please scroll down this page for a full calendar of the Club’s events.
Youth Appreciation Dinner
Our annual Youth Appreciation Scholarship Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at the Town & Country Club. Sixteen St. Paul high school seniors will each receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of their success in overcoming significant obstacles in their young lives. Applications are being distributed to school guidance counselors and members will read and rank the applications by month end. This is an impactful evening you will not want to miss!
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact optimist.stpaul@gmail.com.
Centennial Gala
Celebrating its 100 years of community service, the Optimist Club of St. Paul will host a Centennial Gala on December 5, 2025 at the Town & Country Club. The evening will include music by Walker West, great speakers that include a past scholarship recipient, a past Ms. Minnesota Basketball honoree and two members who will share the club’s history. There will be plenty of time to greet friends old and new.
We invite you to support the Club by attending the gala and by sponsoring our centennial to help us recognize that milestone and help us continue to create a lasting impact.
Please contact Optimst100th@gmail.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for the Gala.
Cadillac FUNdraiser
Our annual Cadillac FUNdraiser will be held on May 8th, 2025 at the Lost Spur Golf Club. This is our major fundraising event of the year with proceeds from the ticket sales, a fabulous silent auction, a bountiful wall of wine, spirited heads and tails game, a photo booth and more all going to fund the Club’s youth activities. Those youth activities take place throughout the year, including Youth Appreciation (scholarships from the Foundation and a dinner celebration with families); Community Dinners at Jeremiah Program’s St. Paul Campus, Oratorical and Essay Scholarship Contests, Face to Face/Safe Zone (at risk teenagers) and other youth activities. All money raised goes toward BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUTH, COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES! Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be stationed throughout the room. Cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks will be available. Early bird tickets are $95 per person. Tickets are $110 per person after April 15th. Make checks payable to The Optimist Club of St. Paul and send it to:
Optimist Club of St. Paul – Cadillac Event
P.O. Box 40065
St. Paul, MN 55104-8065
Questions? Contact Terry Gorman at optimist.stpaul@gmail.com.
The Photo Booth at the Cadillac FUNdraiser is always popular. Pictured here are Faith Clover and Sheri Tamte.
Other Events
In addition to these events, we meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at Joseph’s Grill and host a happy hour the second week of the month at various locations. For more information, see the calendar below.
St. Paul Optimist Club 2024-25 Event Calendar
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January 9, 2025 — Lunch Meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
January 15, 2025 - Club Board Directors Orientation - 5:30pm University Club
January 16, 2025 — Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m. at Stouts Pub
January 23, 20245— Lunch Meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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February 1, 2025 — OPTIMIST DAY – Wear your pin or logo gear!
February 6, 2025 — LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
February 13, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. TBA
February 12, 2025 — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
February 20, 2025 — NOW - New Optimist Information Dinner at 6 p.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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March 6 2025 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 at Joseph’s Grill
March 12, 2025 — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
March 13, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Tiffany’s Bar
March 20, 2025 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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April 3 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
April 9, 2025— JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
April 10, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Urban Growler
April 17, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill Item description
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May 1, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
May 8, 2025 — CADILLAC FUNDRAISER at 6 p.m. at Lost Spur Event Center
May 14, 2025 — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
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June 1, 2025 — GRAND OLD DAY PARADE 9-11am on Grand Avenue
June 5, 20245— BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
June 12, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul Brewing
June 19, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
June 20-24, 2025 — OI CONVENTION at St Louis, MO
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July 10, 2025– HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Moscow on the Hill
July 17 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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August 7, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
August 14, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Patrick McGovern’s
August 21, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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September 4, 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
September 11, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Groveland Tap
September 10, 2025 – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
September 18, 2025 - INSTALLATION DINNER – 6:30pm Town & Country
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October 2, 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October 9, 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Pauly’s on Selby
October 16 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October 30, 2025 — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER & Fall-O-Ween at 4:30 p.m
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November 6, 2025 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
November 13, 2025– YOUTH APPRECIATION DINNER at 6:00 p.m. at Town & Country
November TBA – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER to be announced
November 2025 – HAPPY HOUR at 5:00 p.m. to be announced
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December 5, 2024 – CENTENNIAL GALA at 6 p.m. at Town & Country
December 18,2024 – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER 4:30pm
December 19, 2024 – HOLIDAY GATHERING at 5:30 p.m. See your club email for your invitation
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson (center) spoke at one of the Club's regular meetings.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
The St. Paul Optimist Club rings bells for the Salvation Army each holiday. Club members break up the day in 1-2 hour increments to cover a whole day.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
Jack Orme (l) was the winner of the St. Paul Club's 2023 essay contest. He is pictured above with his father Mike (r).
Jeri Gorman spurs the Club's donations to youth at risk in St. Paul. Teens who are homeless or do not have a stable home need hygiene supplies, socks, lip balm and so much more. The Club donates products and gift cards.
The St. Paul Optimist Club cooks and serves dinner monthly to the families on the St. Paul campus of the Jeremiah Program.
One of the 2023 presentations was on Broken Halo's Band Prison Tour of three prisons in the southern United States.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul celebrated Optimist Day on February 1st. Mayor Carter proclaimed it Optimist Day in St. Paul.
The Club makes treats for Jeremiah's Minneapolis/St. Paul Graduation Ceremony at the Wilder Center.
Club members donate food every year end to Neighborhood House!
The Silent Auction at the Cadillac FUNdraiser always has fun items to bid on! Many items are made by members, like the gorgeous birdhouse pictured here with Dave Eggenberger.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul joined forces with four other service clubs, putting together a Service Central Volunteer Crew at Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The crew built bunk beds for kids in Ramsey County who do not have a bed to sleep in.