OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL IS AN ASSOCIATION WHICH PROVIDES OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO APPROXIMATELY 2,000 OPTIMIST CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD DEDICATED TO "BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUTH." ADULT VOLUNTEERS JOIN OPTIMIST CLUBS TO CONDUCT POSITIVE SERVICE PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AIMED AT PROVIDING A HELPING HAND TO YOUTH. WITH THEIR UPBEAT ATTITUDE, OPTIMIST CLUB MEMBERS HELP EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE. EACH OPTIMIST CLUB DETERMINES THE NEEDS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ITS COMMUNITY AND CONDUCTS PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. EVERY YEAR, OPTIMISTS CONDUCT ROUGHLY 65,000 SERVICE PROJECTS AND SERVE WELL OVER FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.