Helping to Meet the Needs of Boulder Youth
The Boulder Luncheon Optimist Club (BLOC) was formed in August 1962 as the second Optimist Club in Boulder with the primary purpose of serving youth in Boulder as "Friend of Youth". Early projects included an Oratorical Contest, an evening recognizing outstanding young volunteers of the community and sponsoring/coaching Little League baseball teams. Youth sports were a big Optimist project. BLOC soon took over running the entire Pony League baseball in Boulder, including maintaining its own ball field in North Boulder.
Youth sports in the city migrated to control by Boulder Parks & Rec and BLOC became involved in the community. The club initiated the Helping Hand project aimed at affording kids a safe place to go when faced with dangerous circumstances. A Youth Cancer Project was started with BLOC working with the Anschutz Cancer Center. The Oratorical Contest and Youth Appreciation dinner continued and a Middle School Citizenship award project with awards to outstanding students at 6 Boulder 
Middle schools was added. Other projects have come and gone as needs appeared for Optimist "sweat equity": Community Food Share, Precious Child, Calming Kids, a Junior Optimist Club at Justice High School, and Brain Bowl. A scholarship fund to grant college scholarships to Boulder Valley High School graduates was established. To fund its projects BLOC has for years worked with the University of Colorado to guard parking lots for donors at Buffalo football games.
BLOC continues these efforts today and will continue to seek out project opportunities that meet the needs of our community.
