Local businessman Ahdi Dasuqi is attempting to give back to the community by helping the youth.
Dasuqi is current president of the Clarkston Optimist Club who call themselves, “friends of youth.”
“We want to help guide the youth and teach items such as leadership,” Dasuqi said. “We do things to benefit the community at large but we definitely focus on the youth.”
The Optimists were introduced to the Clarkston area when charter president Jim Evans started the group in 1986. It started as a mens only club but today welcomes both men and women.
“It started out as old men but we realized that we had to change with the times. There was a very important energy that the females brought into the club. We are looking for active men and women,” Dasuqi said.
The Clarkston Optimists currently have 63 active members. However, one of Dasuqi’s goals as president was to increase the members by 25 people. Dasuqi’s one year term ends on Sept. 30 and he has already increased membership by 18 people.
Optimists have concluded that one active optimist affects 37 kids.
“We are always looking for new members and they can have quite an impact. Our active members are extremely active. We realize that one person does count,” Dasuqi said. “Clarkston has grown leaps and bounds in the last 15 years and we want to grow as well.”
Optimists perform many activities in the community including:
• Having junior optimist clubs in the schools. Out of the 3,800 clubs across the country only five have a strong, active junior optimist club, according to Dasuqi.
The junior optimists learn about leadership and also give back to the community.
• Running the “Respect for Law” program. The Optimists organize this program which teaches children about the court system. They take around 35 kids to the courts and let them run a mock trial.
“Each one of the kids is a separate part of the trial from the attorney to the judge to the defendant,” Dasuqi said. “It shows them how our court systems work and it also teaches them respect for the law.”
• Fund the Tri-Star basketball shooting contest. They had a record number of kids participate this year and many past contestants have become members of the high school basketball team with some even playing college ball.
• Hosting an oratorical contest. This is hosted by the Optimists and allows the children of Clarkston to showcase their talents. The top three finishers this year received $1,000 college scholarships.
“We also make donation to other items which come up and can benefit the community,” Dasuqi said.
The Optimists raise this money by receiving donations from local businesses and holding a silent auction once a year. Last year the auction night raised $24,000. Some of the projects they support included the new soccer field built last year which they donated $10,000 towards.
The Optimist are also looking into making a donation to the proposed Spraypark at Clintonwood.
“We definitely have a focus on the kids. It is not just giving them scholarships and education, but it is also giving them things to do in the Clarkston area,” Dasuqi said.
The group also participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life where they raised $4,300.
“They said as a first time participant $1,000 would be a good goal so we were very excited about our success,” Dasuqi said.
Dasuqi got involved with the Optimists about five years ago, admittedly due to the wrong reasons. He was interested in getting involved with the community to help raise awareness about his business when friend Evans suggested becoming an Optimist.
“I did it for the wrong reason but I am glad I did it because I fell in love with it. I saw what they were doing for kids and how straightforward they were,” Dasuqi said. “I really enjoy having a positive effect on the community.”
In addition to his goal to increase membership, the president’s additional goals are to increase fundraising and find places to spend that money.
The Optimist are always looking for new members. They meet 7:30 a.m. every Wednesday at Liberty Golf and Banquet. Anyone interested in joining the group or contributing to their silent auction is more than welcome to stop by. Interested parties can also call Dasuqi at (248) 922-1340.
“Everybody is definitely very welcome to join us. Those who are interested in making a difference are the ones who should get involved because you can make a difference,” Dasuqi said. “It is also a great way to make connections in the community.”