The East Utica Optimist Club

Our motto is "Friend of Youth". The East Utica Optimist Club was founded in 1975. We honor students from the Utica City School District's elementary, middle, and high schools.

We operate the concession stand at Proctor's home basketball games, and host the annual basketball banquet. We give eight Optimist Student-of-the-Month scholarships to graduating seniors at Proctor High School. The Club sponsors a Junior Optimist Club at John F. Kennedy Middle School. The Club takes children to Utica College basketball and football games. We help to sponsor reading programs in Utica schools. We escort children to events such as "Sesame Street Live" and the annual "Nutcracker". The club annually sponsors an essay contest and oratorical contest. We host a "Respect for Law" dinner. The club assists the Masonic Home in some of that institutions festivities. We contribute to Optimist International's charity: childhood cancer research.

This club is the proud sponsor of the Edward J. Herrmann Cross-Country Invitational.

Contact us at info@ejherrmanninvitational.com if you know of a worthwhile youth-orientated project that our club can assist or if you would like to become a member of the East Utica Optimist Club.