The club donates funds to support the following:
- 4H and County Fair
- 4Step Riding
- After Prom Parties at Four High Schools
- Believe in Tomorrow
- Berlin Baseball
- Berlin Football
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters
- Boy Scouts
- Festival of Lights
- Girl Scouts
- Help Them Hear
- Hugh O’Brien Foundation
- Junior Achievement
- Ocean City Art League
- Ocean City Recreation and Parks
- Ocean Pines Angler Club
- Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks
- Optimist International Foundation
- Optimist Maryland Cancer Program
- Play it Safe
- Programs at Middle and Intermediate Schools
- Reading, Behavior, and Other Programs at Three Local Elementary Schools
- Selbyville Baseball
- Toys for Tots
- Worcester County Arts Council and Scholarships for Summer Programs
- Worcester County Gold Youth and Family
- Worcester County Public Schools
Seaside Boat Show
The 2025 Seaside Boat Show will be our 42nd year.
We wish to extend our thanks to all the vendors, guests, and club members for participating in last year’s event. Over 15,000 people visited the show between Friday and Sunday.
Each year with the support of North Bay Marina we give away a pontoon boat. Use your entry ticket to enter into the drawing for this wonderful prize.
Scholarship Endowment Golf Tournament
In 2001 the Optimist Club Foundation established an endowment account with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. Funds are raised for the award of scholarships to Stephen Decatur High School. Over $100,000 has been raised through the annual golf tournament in the past 14 years.
Convention Center Ushering & Assistance
Optimist members provide ticket takers and ushers for the Performing Arts Center at the convention center. Each hour worked is credited to the rent for the boat show. Over $30,000 has been realized in rent reduction to support the major club fundraiser.
The Ocean Pines Children’s Theater is grateful to the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Club for their donation in support of the production of Disney’s Frozen JR musical performed on Friday, January 14, and Saturday, January 15. The cast of 16 youth kept the audience of 805 adults and children spellbound during the two performances.
