Optimists donate to all Madison elementary schools
MADISON – Students at all seven Madison elementary schools will benefit from recent donations by the Optimist Club of Madison.
Charlie Montgomery with the Optimist Club of Madison presents a check to Pam Matheney, PTA president at Mill Creek Elementary School. (CONTRIBUTED)
“The Madison Optimists have been busy again,” spokesman Vic van Leeuwen said. “This year, we donated a total of $2,100 to the PTAs at all of Madison’s elementary schools. PTA members know the best use for donations like this.”
Optimist International’s byline is “Friend of Youth.” “This year, we thought donations to the schools is the best way to show our support,” van Leeuwen said.
Optimist members visited each elementary school to present the club’s donations. Charlie Montgomery handed off the check at Mill Creek; John Grant, Rainbow; Richard Cooper, Madison elementary; Steve Burcham, West Madison; Scott Piro, Columbia; Herschel Jordan, Heritage; and Noble Harber, Horizon.
“A big thank you to the Optimist Club of Madison,” Sonja Griffith said. Griffith is president of the Madison City Council of PTAs. “The members presented $300 to each PTA to use as needed. The Optimist Club sponsors such programs as the Bike Rodeo, the Safety Optimist Style Event and their annual essay contest.”
Optimist officers are president Jim Gilchrist, vice presidents William Thomas and Mike Doyle, secretary Mike Doyle and treasurer Bill Oetjen. Board of directors members are Vic van Leeuwen, Tom Carter, Herschel Jordan, Tony Miele, Richard Cooper and David Willsey.
The Optimist Club of Madison conducts dinner meetings on the first and third Thursdays each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Port of Madison restaurant at the Best Western Plus. “If you’re interested in serving the younger citizens of our community with a group of great folks, please feel free to attend a meeting,” van Leeuwen said.
Call 256-772-8148 or 256-461-8787 or visit optimistclubofmadison.org for more information about membership in the Optimist Club and the club’s community outreach programs.
