South club plans fund-raisers for charities
Student Optimists join area organizations for service to community

by Beth Beach
reporter

The Optimist Club International of South Campus has scheduled several sports tournaments this semester as fund-raisers.
“We want people to know that we’re a fun group of people to be around,” Carolyn Riddell, South Campus chapter president, said.
The South Campus club is planning a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for Feb. 17-19. David Derry and Laura Trimble are chairmen of the event.
The chapter will also host an Amateur Softball Association Fastpitch Tournament, being planned for May 14. Sherri Burt is the chairman of this off-campus event.
Two golf tournaments are also being planned for May, one for adults and a junior tournament. Brandy McDaniel serves as chairman of these events.
The winner of the junior tournament will have the opportunity to advance to further tournaments, culminating in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship.
The OIJGC allows opportunity for scholarships and, according to Riddell, is a prestigious event for junior golfers. Tiger Woods won the OIJGC twice.
Sports are not the only purpose of the clubs, though. Optimist Clubs aim to improve the community, and the TCC chapters chose to focus on helping the youth in their community schools, Riddell said.
“Their primary function is for mentoring,” she said.
The South chapter teamed up with FWISD and TEAM Fort Worth during the fall semester to offer mentoring services to youths at Rosemont Middle School, Dr. T.G. Thomas, sponsor for South Campus, said.
According to Riddell, the mentoring program will continue into the spring.
Students on all four campuses now have the opportunity to have fun while they help the community through Optimist Club International.
The first TCC chapter of the club at NW Campus started last spring. NE Campus chartered its chapter with 27 members on Dec. 1, officially making the club available on all four campuses, Thomas said.
To join The Optimist Club International of South Campus or learn about upcoming sports events, contact Thomas in SSCI 1711 on South Campus.