Upcoming Events
Our upcoming 2026 events include the Youth Appreciation Dinner, November 17th. This event is open to both members and the public. Please scroll down this page for a full calendar of the Club’s events.
Youth Appreciation Dinner
Our annual Cadillac FUNdraiser will be held on May 13th, 2027 at the Lost Spur Golf Club. This is our major fundraising event of the year with proceeds from the ticket sales, a fabulous silent auction, a bountiful wall of wine, spirited heads and tails game, a photo booth and more all going to fund the Club’s youth activities. Those youth activities take place throughout the year, including Youth Appreciation (scholarships from the Foundation and a dinner celebration with families); Community Dinners at Jeremiah Program’s St. Paul Campus, Oratorical and Essay Scholarship Contests, Face to Face/Safe Zone (at risk teenagers) and other youth activities. All money raised goes toward BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUTH, COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES!
Watch for more information is coming soon. Mark May 14th on your calendar.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
Cadillac FUNdraiser on May 13th
Our annual Youth Appreciation Scholarship Dinner will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at the Town & Country Club. Fifteen St. Paul high school seniors each receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of their success in overcoming significant obstacles in their young lives.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
The Photo Booth at the Cadillac FUNdraiser is always popular. Pictured here are Faith Clover and Sheri Tamte.
Members celebrating Optimist Day!
Other Events
In addition to these events, we meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at Joseph’s Grill and host a happy - social hour the second week of the month at various locations. For more information, see the calendar below.
St. Paul Optimist Club 2025-26 Event Calendar
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January 1, 2026 - No meal meeting
January 5, 2026 - Club Board Directors Orientation - 5:30pm University Club
January 8, 2026— HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at Andiamo’s Italian Ristorante.
January 15, 2026 — Lunch Meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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February 5, 2026 — OPTIMIST DAY – Wear your pin or logo wear!
February 5, 2026 — LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
February TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
February 12, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at 5:00 p.m. Urban Growler
February 13, 2026 - Student Essays due to Club Chairperson - optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
February 19, 2026 - LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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March 5, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 at Joseph’s Grill
March 12, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Shamrock’s Bar & Grill
March TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
March 19, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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April 2 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
April 9, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at Tiffany’s Bar
April 15, 2026 - Cadillac FUNdraiser early Bird Ticket Sales end
April 16, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grille
April TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
April 25, 2026 - Cadillac FUNdraiser ticket sales end!
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May 2 & 3, 2026 - DMM District Meeting - Watertown, SD
May 7, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
May 14, 2026 - CADILLAC FUNdraiser at 6 p.m. at Lost Spur Event Center
May 21, 2026 - HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at at Lunds & Byerlys, 2170 Ford Pkwy, St Paul - in “The Mezz”. Take the elevator to 2nd floor.
May TBA - JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
May TBA , 2026 - DMM Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Contest, 10 a.m. Metro Deaf School, St Paul, MN
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June 4, 2026 - BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
June 7, 2026 - GRAND OLD DAY PARADE 9-11am on Grand Avenue
June 11, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at Highland Bridges Music in the Park, The Civic Plaza at Highland Bridge is just north of the water feature and just south west of the Lunds. (2219 Bohland Ave)
June 17, 2026 - Jeremiah Cookout –3:00 – 6:00 at Jeremiah.
June 18, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
June 29 - July 2, 2025 - OI CONVENTION at St Louis, MO
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July 2rd - NO BREAKFAST MEETING
July 4, 2026- Celebrate our 250th Independence Day!
July 9, 2026– HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at at Moscow on the Hill
July 16, 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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August 6, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
August 13, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR Canceled
August 13, 2026 - St Paul Friend of Youth Foundation Alumni and Club Members picnic, Highland Picnic Pavilion, 1200 Montreal Ave, St Paul, MN 5 - 9pm
August 20-23, 2026 - DMM District Annual meeting, Rapid City, SD
August 20, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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September 3, 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
September 10, 2026– HAPPY - SOCIAL HOUR at 5:30 p.m. Waldmann Brewing
September TBA – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
September 17, 2026 - CLUB OFFICER INSTALLATION AND MEMBER APPRECIATION DINNER at 6:30 PM, at Mancini’s Char House - RSVP required
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October 1, 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October 8, 2026 – HAPPY / SOCIAL HOUR at 5:30pm Wandering Leaf Brewing
October 15 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October TBA 2026 - DMM 1st Quarter Conference, Watertown, SD RSVP required
October TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER & Fall-O-Ween at 4:30 p.m
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November 6, 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
November 17, 2026 - YOUTH APPRECIATION DINNER AND PROGRAM Town & Country Club, 6:30pm RSVP required
November 2026 – HAPPY - SOCIAL - Canceled
November TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
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December 3, 2026 - LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
December 2026 – HAPPY - SOCIAL - Canceled
December TBA – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER 4:30pm
December TBA – HOLIDAY GATHERING at 5:30 p.m. See your club email for your invitation
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson (center) spoke at one of the Club's regular meetings.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
The St. Paul Optimist Club rings bells for the Salvation Army each holiday. Club members break up the day in 1-2 hour increments to cover a whole day.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
Jack Orme (l) was the winner of the St. Paul Club's 2023 essay contest. He is pictured above with his father Mike (r).
Jeri Gorman spurs the Club's donations to youth at risk in St. Paul. Teens who are homeless or do not have a stable home need hygiene supplies, socks, lip balm and so much more. The Club donates products and gift cards.
The St. Paul Optimist Club cooks and serves dinner monthly to the families on the St. Paul campus of the Jeremiah Program.
One of the 2023 presentations was on Broken Halo's Band Prison Tour of three prisons in the southern United States.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul celebrated Optimist Day on February 1st. Mayor Carter proclaimed it Optimist Day in St. Paul.
The Club makes treats for Jeremiah's Minneapolis/St. Paul Graduation Ceremony at the Wilder Center.
Club members donate food every year end to Neighborhood House!
The Silent Auction at the Cadillac FUNdraiser always has fun items to bid on! Many items are made by members, like the gorgeous birdhouse pictured here with Dave Eggenberger.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul joined forces with four other service clubs, putting together a Service Central Volunteer Crew at Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The crew built bunk beds for kids in Ramsey County who do not have a bed to sleep in.