Major Club Events

 BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS RECOGNITION 

Each year the SOC organization strives to advance its mission of serving the youth and continuing to make a difference in the community. One of our events is a dinner to recognize the the achievement of the Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Award.

This annual event is chaired by Kent Suzuki.

Recap of the dinner held on March 9, 2023.
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, SOC hosted our annual Scout Recognition Dinner at Frantone’s Pizza and Spaghetti Villa in Cerritos. This year, we honored six Boy Scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout and two Girl Scouts who earned their Gold Award. 

The Eagle Scouts honored were: Austen Lock, Zach Mauldin, Matthew Nakagawa, Preston Sasaki, Alex Wakabayashi and Jaydon Yuki. 


The Gold Awardees honored were: Alyssa Ige and Kayla Kashima.
After a dinner of salad, pasta and pizza, each Scout presented their Eagle or Gold Award projects. It was amazing to see how much time and effort went into each project and the impact it made to others. Their projects showed how they are leaders and how their projects can make a difference in someone else’s life. 


Our guest speaker this year was Kristine Yada. Kristine Yada was an OCBC Girl Scout for 12 years. In 2016, she earned her Gold Award and recently acted as a Gold Award Advisor for Alyssa Ige, a current OCBC Girl Scout. Currently, Kristine is the 2022 Nisei Week Queen representative for the Southern California Japanese American community where she acts as a cultural ambassador. In 2020, Kristine graduated from UC Davis, majoring in Clinical Nutrition and minored in Exercise Biology. In 2022, she graduated with a MS in Nutrition Science from CSULB and is currently working in private practice as a dietitian at KEY Nutrition Counseling. She hopes to continue her involvement with the Asian American community through her profession and volunteerism.


Kristine gave a very interesting and informative talk about her Gold Award project, shared her scouting adventures, and her college and professional experiences. She also shared how her scouting experience helped her “Be Prepared” for life’s challenges and how those skills will help the scouts in their future as they helped her plan, communicate, organize, and implement her many tasks, duties and goals in life.  


SOC PANCAKE BREAKFAST -  Saturday April 6, 2024
OCBC - 909 S. Dale Ave. Anaheim, CA, 92804 
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Tickets $8 pre-sale, $10 at door  

Includes a Complete Breakfast, Door Prizes, Boutique
Featuring Famous SOC Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, and Fruit 

One of our major fundraisers to support activities to build self esteem in youth. Funds are used for our many youth activities including high school scholarships and sponsorship of SEYO youth athletic program. Tickets may be purchased from members of the individual SEYO organizations, Suburban Optimist members or at the breakfast. This event is normally held in Spring at Orange County Buddhist Church. This event is chaired by Dan Fukushima and Al Baez.
 

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR RECOGNITION

An annual event since 1966, SOC honors Southern California graduating High School seniors of Japanese ancestry. The seniors are invited to a semi-formal dinner and have an opportunity to listen to a relevant guest speaker. Each graduate is acknowledged for their scholastic achievements and community involvement and receives the Suburban Optimist’s Youth Recognition Achievement Award that evening. Four to six scholarships are also presented to deserving applicants at the evening’s event. This year's event is chaired by Sharon Okazaki.

Information on the 2024 event:
Application form and instructions are available in our Google folder: 

Applications are due by May 9, 2024.


Congratulation to all the current and past high school seniors!

SOC GOLF TOURNAMENT

Another of our major fundraisers each year is the Annual Suburban Optimist Club Golf Tournament. Proceeds from this event support the many youth programs that are conducted throughout the year. 

Change of venue for our 2024 event on Monday July 15, 2024 the tournament will be held at Alta Vista Country Club, 777 Alta Vista St. Placentia, CA 92870

REGISTRATION: 8:00 AM - SHOTGUN START: 10:00 AM


This event is chaired by Eiji Yoshihiro: and Miles Yano.

SOC is a Proud Multi Year Sponsor of
Tanaka Farms and the OCO Club
Walk the Farm



100% of the net proceeds from the event go to providing support for farmers suffering from natural disasters, scholarships for students of Iwate University's School of Agriculture, and grants for new farmers who are focused on rebuilding and renewing areas that were affected by the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.

SOC CHRISTMAS PARTY

SOC Sponsored Christmas Party for the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove

Christmas Party for the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove

SOC believes that all kids regardless of their situation should enjoy a memorable holiday season, and for nearly 30 years we have partnered with the Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club to host a Holiday party for less privileged families. This has become one of our most enjoyable traditions. This event is chaired by Sharon Okazaki.

The Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove held their annual Holiday event with many participating sponsors. Due to rising COVID cases, it was held outdoors. Eric Shishima volunteered to be Santa and took photos with the families. Traditionally SOC provides gifts to 125 children at $20 per child. This year however, one of the Jr. Optimists asked if he could provide gifts to 60 of the kids for his Eagle Project.

We had a lot of Jr Optimists participate and volunteer their services at the various sponsor booths, such as the food pantry, emotional support dogs, crafts, photos with Santa and serving Italian Ice.

SOC/OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL SPONSORED CONTESTS

Our annual events chaired by Kent and Nancy Suzuki. Contact Us for Additional Information
ORATORICAL

The contest is designed for youth to gain experience in public speaking, perfect self-expression, gain self-assurance, improve communication skills, and provide them with the opportunity to compete for a Optimist International sponsored college scholarship.

The contest is open to youth under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution. There is no minimum age.

Interested youth should prepare a 4 to 5 minute speech on the assigned topic to be presented at SOC's event. The speeches are judged at the Club level, Zone level, District Regional level (if needed) and then at the District level prior to the Optimist International Oratorical World Championships. Clubs and Districts may choose to allow contestants to compete via online streaming.

ESSAY

The Essay Contest is to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In additional to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship.

Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations.

All Club-level contests are held by early February. Student submissions will not be accepted after the Club-level contests have closed. Topic for the 2020-21 school year is: "Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism" to be qualified you must be under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2020 (and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution).
Congratulations to Ty Nishikawa, 2021 Club Winner.

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