The Junior Optimist Club at Passaic Prep is a club for high school students who want to help the Passaic community. It is run by Mr. Figueroa and meets every other Thursday after school in the cafeteria. The club has over 120 members who are currently in high school.
The club benefits ALL students as it helps build necessary skills for the future. During senior year, seniors can apply for the Optimist scholarship via Naviance.
The Club’s Annual Youth Appreciation Dinner and Ceremony is Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. and will stream LIVE on Mayor Hactor C. Lora’s Facebook page!
The Boulevard Online asked Staff Advisor Mr. Figueroa some questions about the club:
Q: What does the Junior Optimist Club do?
A: The Junior Optimist Club at Passaic Prep Academy is a service-oriented club where students provide community service projects to the school, the community, the state, or nationally, and when possible, internationally.
Q: How is it beneficial for students?
A: The club benefits students in a couple ways: Students develop leadership, communication, and organizational skills that would be helpful for college or the workplace. In addition, students gain a sense of giving back to the community with no expectation of getting anything back in return and that follows them for life. Another benefit is high school students who are applying to colleges. The club offers students the opportunity to fulfill community service hours that may be needed when students apply for scholarships or apply to colleges/universities.
Q: What grade levels are allowed to join?
A: Any high schooler can join.
Q: How many members are in the Junior Optimist Club?
A: There are 122 members.
Q: Could you tell us a success story relating to the club?
A: When we were hosting our annual Bagging for Bucks Fundraiser back in December of 2024, we were raising money for the Optimist Foundation by asking for donations at the local ShopRite here in Passaic. There was a gentleman who stopped by the donation booth, and he stated that he was a Passaic Optimistic scholarship recipient, and he was impressed that Junior Optimist Organization was still in existence. He went on by saying that without the scholarship that he received from the Optimist Foundation he would not be as successful as he was today, and he wouldn’t have been able to attend college without the scholarship that was provided to him. Hearing this made me feel very hopeful, because students can benefit from opportunities like this one. Stories like this are life changing and the Passaic Optimist Foundation continues to provide scholarships to some of the hardest working students from the Passaic school system.
