Optimist Club brings youth together for Halloween golf

Originally published in the Daily Republic on October 25, 2014 By Amy Maginnis-Honey.

Rapunzel made her away to the miniature golf course at Scandia Family Fun Center Friday night.
She seemed to have a knack for the game. Applying just enough of a gentle touch to get the ball close to the hole.
Susan Aragon, 7, of Vacaville was costumed as the lass with the long tresses as the Optimist Club of Solano County held its inaugural miniature golf Halloween fundraiser.
The young girl was joined by about 50 other youth, more than half of them from the Vacaville Boys and Girls Club.

Maleah Fontenette, 8, also of Vacaville, patiently waited in line to play one of the holes. Dressed as a bat, the young girl said she was having lots of fun.
“It’s a safe way for kids to experience Halloween,” said Christina Baird, who heads up the local Optimist Club.
Halloween was always one of her favorite days. Things are different from when she was a child. Bringing youth together in a safe place is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween now, she said.
The Optimist Club is an international organization whose mission is to bring out the best in youth.
The local group spends much of their time helping other civic organizations. “We’re like the Aflac of nonprofits,” Baird said.
The golf fundraiser is the only event where the Optimist Club gets the proceeds. “It pays our bills,” Baird said.
A costume contest, raffle prizes, food and awards for the best golf games were included in the event.

Anna Eaton of the Vacaville Boys & Girls Club said the 31 youth that are part of her organization earned their spot in the golf game through good behavior and doing homework.
“There were a lot of sad faces left behind,” she said.
Some of the youth have never had the opportunity to play miniature golf before, she said.
The Optimist Club would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for donating to our awesome and event supporting such a great cause! (please forgive us if any names are missed on our behalf in advance)
In Alphabetical Order: Amici’s Restaurant, Beads on Main, Best Buy of Fairfield, Big 5 Sports of Vacaville, Bryan Braker Funeral Home, Buffalo Wild Wings of Vacaville, Cache Creek, Cheryl Bovee, Costco of Vacaville, Courtyard Marriott of Fairfield, 5 Star Car Wash, Ford of Fairfield, Foster’s Freeze of Vacaville, Franklin Distillers, Front2Back Designs, Hampton Inn of Vacaville, Hampton Inn Waterfront, Herb Sullivan, Jelly Belly, Jim Frazier Assembly Member 11 District, Johnny Carino’s of Fairfield, Karen Faria, Little Wing Connections, Lord’s Gym, Mary’s Pizza Shack, Nugget Market, Peet’s Coffee of Vacaville, Portrero Hills, Ron Dupratt Ford, Rose Villa, Rubio’s, Sam’s Club, Scandia Family Fun Center, ServPro of Fairfield, Thornton and Sons, Tonya Dretzka, Wooden Valley Winery