Did you know that each year more than 12,000 children and teenagers will
be diagnosed with cancer? Did you also know that one in every 330 Americans
develops cancer before the age of 20? Due to statistics such as these, Optimist
Clubs are encouraged to participate in this program by building awareness
of the disease, providing assistance to childhood cancer patients and their
families and supporting research to find a cure.
The CCC program model is built to accentuate four areas of service on which
Members can focus:
Support to children diagnosed and receiving treatment for cancer
Support to families and care partners of children with cancer
Optimist
Cancer Research Initiative with Johns Hopkins
Optimist International made a $1 million commitment to fund an Endowed Research
Fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Clubs are asked to donate funds restricted
to CCC Research to help meet the commitment and play an important role in
finding the cure.
Matching
Grants
The Matching Grants program is currently available for Canadian Clubs and
Districts to complete and submit an application requesting assistance with
various CCC projects and fundraisers. The Matching Grants program will be
open to all Optimist Clubs beginning in October 2009. The application is
reviewed by the CCC Advisory Panel and a determination is made. Grants are
awarded to Clubs and Districts that raise money or provide additional funds
for the CCC-focused project. 80% of the grant is given when the application
is approved and 20% is given when the Final Report from the project is received.
CCC
at Every Level
The CCC program is designed for Member involvement on the Club, Zone and
District levels. Each Club and District is asked to appoint a CCC Chair.
All CCC Club materials are also applicable to JOOI Members. Program materials
and CCC resources
can be accessed through this website by clicking on the links or by contacting
the Programs Department.
For information contact the CCC via e-mail at programs@optimist.org
or call (800) 500-8130, ext. 235.
