Optimist Club pledges $100,000 to future Brooklin project

Thu Mar 06, 2008
By Melissa Mancini

BROOKLIN -- The Optimist Club of Brooklin meets wherever it can: homes, the current community centre and even the local Tim Hortons -- but that's all about to change.

The club has pledged $100,000 to the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, which has an anticipated opening date of 2010. The club will sponsor parts of the building in exchange for usage rights.

"We don't have a set meeting space right now," said club secretary and treasurer Brian Wick. "We really believe that it's important to help cultural aspects of our community grow."

It's a big donation for a club with 24 members.

"We have a nest egg," Mr. Wick said. "And we will continue fundraising over the next few years."

Councillors were thrilled with the donation when it was discussed at operations committee Monday.

"This is a very significant contribution from a club in Brooklin," Mayor Pat Perkins said. "They do fantastic work for youth."

The committee directed staff to work on a sign acknowledging the donation to be put on the site of the centre's future home.

Starting this year, the pledge of $100,000 will come annually in four equal instalments. The gymnasium in the new facility will be named the "Brooklin Optimist Gymnasium" and a room on the second floor will be named the "Brooklin Optimist Room" for 10 years. The group will also receive complimentary room use privileges for meetings for 10 years.

The club provides programs for youth, including weekly basketball games, dances and the "Girl Get Movin' " program for active females.

The Optimists hope to be able to start a Junior Optimist Club in their new guaranteed space, Mr. Wick said. The junior club would be for youth ages 10-18 and would teach members how to be good citizens in their community.