Respect for Law Week
In July 1965, a discussion between Past Optimist International President Carl Bowen and former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover resulted in the birth of the Respect For Law community activity. This is the fourth most popular Optimist activity with more than 1,500 clubs participating each year.
Our Club celebrates this popular program with a Proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners and the recognition and honoring of law enforcement officials from seven agencies serving Calvert County: State’s Attorney Office, Office of the Sheriff, Maryland State Police, Calvert Detention Center, Calvert Control Center – 911, Animal Control Unit, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police.
Project Graduation
The Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) sponsors alcohol and drug-free parties for graduates and their guests from Calvert’s public high schools each year. The Calvert Optimist Club has been honored to be a partners in these celebrations by providing and preparing the hot dogs, hamburgers snacks sodas and water for the graduates to celebrate at evening events for the all night events that have been scheduled.
Miss Tranquility & Lord Calvert Contests
The Calvert County Fair each year chooses a youth as Miss Tranquility and as Lord Calvert to preside over the annual County Fair. The Club is proud to sponsor contestants. If you need a sponsor contact the Club through this site for assistance.
Eagle Scouts/Sea Scouts
The Club assists Boy Scouts in their goal of becoming an Eagle Scout through financial assistance for their project. Sea Scouts have been sponsored to attend the SEAL program Advance Leadership) in past years, as well as supplemental equipment donations for regular scouting programs.
Community Bulletin Board
Since 1974 the Club has had the Calvert Community Bulletin Board located in Prince Frederick adjacent to the Safeway at MD Route2/4 & Dares Beach Road. Non-profit organizations and groups are provided one-week’s advertisement of an event or function at no cost. The program is administered through a partnership with the Calvert Library and groups may register to have an announcement on the Bulletin Board by going the Library’s website www.calvert.lib.md.us and clicking on the tab for SERVICES and then Optimist Sign.
Books for Babies
The Club is pleased and honored to be able to a partner with Calvert Library’s ‘Books for Babies’ program. Science has discovered a great deal of information regarding the importance of reading to babies, now and for many years. Reading is the easiest and most enjoyable way to learn about the world, science, life, and other interests. Reading to infants and encouraging them to continue reading as they grow older establishes the child’s tools for a fulfilling educational experience and a better life. Each new born baby at Calvert Memorial Hospital is given a package containing baby’s first book, a coupon for baby’s second book and a great deal of information showing how the development of a child’s mental abilities can be greatly enhanced by having books read to them at the earliest of ages.
Calvert Shop with a Cop
The Club partnered with the members of the Sheriff’s Office Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in 2006 to establish a shop with a cop program for underprivileged children of Calvert County to experience a Christmas time where they are able to purchase gifts for their families, friends and most importantly themselves. This program fosters a positive environment for the children and police officers to share in conversation, working as a team and enjoying a meal together as the kids wrap the gifts purchased for others. Each child participating in the program is transported by the uniformed officer in his official vehicle to and from the day of events. Each participant is given a generous stipend to purchase gifts with only one requirement – that they purchase themselves at least one gift.
A Back to School version was started in 2011. Post COVID, backpacks with school supplies were donated to each Middle School in Calvert.
Funding for the program, provided by donations from businesses, individuals, and the Calvert-Prince Frederick Optimist Club, now allows the Calvert Shop with a Cop program to provide this service for 39 children each Christmas and 30 middle schoolers each year in August.
Additionally, the club assists the following causes with Financial Support :
Maryland Childhood Cancer Campaign, Eagle Scouts/Explorer Scouts/Girl Scouts, Children’s Aid, Inc.,
Camp Comps, Best Buddies Program, Special Olympics/Challengers Baseball, NSBE, Jr. Calvert County Chapter