Service Events
Each year the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club sponsors service events that have a positive impact on the youth in our community. Listed here are service events that are held on a regular annual basis.

 Great 4th of July Celebration at Winona
This day in the park for kids includes a parade, a King and Cutie contest, art, clowns, an obstacle course, a big wheel race and other fun activities. The club co-sponsors the event with local businesses and the Village of Winona Lake, and club members work to provide the man power to make it all happen.

Oratorical Contest
This is a nationwide Optimist event to encourage and give opportunity to our youth for public speaking.
Local middle school and high school teachers recommend students to compete in this event, usually 8 to 10 compete from the Warsaw area. The top three students move on to compete in district finals. Winners at the district finals have opportunity to compete for College Scholarships.

Octagon Club
Thirty to forty high school kids learning how to serve their community through projects they seek out. Working with the Salvation Army, tutoring elementary children and assisting the WBO club in manning it’s many projects. Founded by Jerry Clevenger in 1999 as an active part of the WBO club program to reach youth in our community.

Optimist Singers
Founded over thirty years ago by Phil Eherenman to “have some fun singing together.” Some of the original group included, Mike Hern, Bob Richman, Pinky Eherenman, Glen Moorhead, Jerry Chub, Dick Anderson, David Haines, Dave Turner and Bret Wolf.
Today the most active time of the year for the singers is the Christmas season with appearances at local retirement and nursing homes. Music selections typically include barber- shop and men’s choral pieces.

Respect For Law Day
Fifty to sixty kids spending a full day up close and personal with law enforcement officers; SWAT team members, K9 units, dive teams, shooting range demos and jail house tours including a jail house lunch. And, at the end of the day each child receives a special plaque commemorating this special day.
Sam Whitaker, club member and member of the sheriff’s department, chairs this annual event to give kids a positive experience with our law enforcement services.

Santa House
An annual event since the 1960’s the house was originally operated by the Exchange Club in a downtown Warsaw location. The WBO club refurbished the house and moved it to the Kmart parking lot where Santa appears each Christmas Season on Weekends through the month of December.
Optimist and Octagon club members staff the house with Santa and his elf’s . Each year nearly 500 children will sit on Santa’s lap for a free picture and a candy cane.

Scholarship Fund
Income from the local Optimist Foundation funds this project. Typically 100 to 125 kids from Warsaw area high schools compete for 3 to 5 scholarships each year. Applications are provided to school administrators each spring.

Spring Break Skate
The brainstorm of Art Gakstatter some ten years ago, this week of fun during spring break is for kids who otherwise might be home alone. Co-sponsored by WBO club and East Lake Skating the event draws 300 to 500 kids from across the county. Tickets are distributed to all of the elementary schools in the county as well as to home schoolers.

Spooktacular
Over 20 years ago club member, David Lee, working with Miller’s Merry Manor and local business sponsors, created “Safe Halloween” for the kids of Warsaw. Candy was provided by local businesses, Miller’s Mary Manor provided the facility, residents handed out the candy and WBO club provided the staff.
Today the event is held downtown Warsaw. Streets are blocked off, local businesses provide trick or treat opportunities for over 1,000 kids, and a costume contest, judged by club members, with special prizes is a highlight of the evening.

Student of the week
The program is designed to identify and recognize non- academic and non-athletic leaders in the school class room. Students who contribute to the class room atmosphere and whom teachers recognize as leaders in some aspect that impacts the class in a positive way. Students that are chosen are recognized at a WBO club breakfast and receive a Certificate commemorating the honor.