Optimist Club of Ankeny

Funds for the Optimist Club of Ankeny come from the following sources.

Member Volunteering

Club members volunteer to assist with a variety of events and activities to generate funds for the Club.  Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines provides an ongoing source of revenue for non-profit groups who assist with its concession stands (managed through Ovations).  Optimist Club of Ankeny members have regularly volunteered at events since the arena first opened, including concerts and sporting events.  Other volunteer work has included assisting with parking at the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival (coordinated with area Optimist clubs as a zone-level activity) and picking up trash following track meets at Ankeny High School.  Funds from volunteering are used to finance Club activities, provide donations to other Ankeny-area youth organizations (such as After Prom), donations to the Optimist International Foundation, Club membership to the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce, and to help offset general operations expenses, such as postage, printing, membership drives, and advertising.

Ankeny Summerfest 5K and 1 Mile Run

A major revenue source for the Club is our annual Summerfest race.  All funds generated through this event are distributed based on member voting.  Recipients have included the Ankeny Circle of Friends, Blank Children’s Hospital, and the Ankeny High School Shooting Sports Program.  Funds generated through the run include participant registration fees, business sponsorships, and individual and business donations.

Membership Dues

Annual dues (currently $60) are collected from each member.  These dues are used to pay the Club’s District-level and International-level dues.  The Club-level dues rate is influenced by the rates set by Optimist International and the Iowa District, with the final level determined through a vote of the members.