Ancaster Optimists, "Friend to Youth", is focused on supporting youth in the community. We directly support local sports teams and individual athletes, learning and travel opportunities for youth, leadership retreats for youth, Girl Guides and Childhood diabetes. Further learning opportunities, such as club-sponsored essay contests and trips to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum are also provided. We also work to assist related causes, such as youth and family poverty through local food banks, violence against women through local shelters, and Autism Dogs Canada, just to name a few.