Press Releases

 

 

The Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. has established an endowment fund in their organization’s name through the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.  In partnership with the Community Foundation, the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. will continue to award scholarships on an annual basis.  Also, by raising money through their Scholarship Lotto and donations, the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. is assured of being able to perpetuate these Decatur High scholarships into the future.

 

Chartered in 1972, the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. initiated a scholarship program at Decatur High School in 1989 to support students who had the desire to go to college but might not have had the financial resources.  To raise funds, they established the “Condo Lottery” which gave people the opportunity to win a condominium in Ocean City by purchasing a lottery ticket for $100.00.

 

In 1998, the “Condo Lottery” became the “Scholarship Lotto” with one winner taking home $100,000.

 

Last year, the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. created a prize program that allowed participants the opportunity to win either a $75,000 first prize, a $15,000 2^nd prize or a $10,000 3^rd prize—again simply with the purchase of a $100. ticket!

 

Relying on their two successful fundraisers, February’s Annual Ocean City Boat Show and a mailing that targets people who participate in the Scholarship Lotto annually, the Foundation contributes 100% of the proceeds to the scholarship fund.

 

For the last 22 years, 269 scholarships have been awarded to the tune of $1.4 million.  They receive an average of 40 applications each year and award 11 to 12 scholarships every year.

 

Charles Smith, Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. member, states that “we’re changing kid’s lives with this scholarship fund.  We want to see kids going to college and by partnering with the Community Foundation, we’re assured that this fund will be managed into perpetuity.”

 

Student eligibility is based on a criteria developed at the program’s inception that includes the student’s GPA and SAT scores.

 

“Investing in leadership to address community needs is at the forefront of what we do here at the Community Foundation,” said Spicer Bell, President, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.  “We look forward to working with the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. to help them build a sound institution that helps meet the community’s needs forever.”

 

If you are interested in supporting this scholarship fund, gifts can be made to the Ocean City Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund.

 

The Community Foundation manages over 100 endowed scholarship funds and during fiscal year 2010 awarded $194,000 in scholarships to local students.

The mission of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is to strengthen the community by building charitable funds, maximizing benefits to donors, making effective grants and providing leadership to address community needs.  For more information, please visit our website at www.cfes.org or call 410-742-9911.