The Club's Revenue Sources

Over the years, the Club has generated revenue to fund its programs from numerous sources including:

• Hosting bingo sessions at the K-W Gaming Centre in Kitchener. (Photo: Dave Wilburn, Rob Graham and Joe Watson hosted our session in May, 2026.) Over the years, the number of monthly sessions has varied but this has, overall, been the Club's most consistant source of income. 
• Manning the Crown & Anchor booth at Bingeman's during Oktoberfest as shown in the other photo above.
• Cash donations received through donation jars at various Club sponsored events such as the Stanley Park Optimist Ball Program's Hot Dog Day* and the Bike Safety Rodeo.  
• Sponsorships paid by local businesses to help cover the costs, and keep participation fees more affordable, for programs such as the Stanley Park Optimist Ball Program and the Grand River Bass Derby.
• Participation fees for programs including the Stanley Park Optimist Ball Program, the Grand River Bass Derby, Saturday Night Youth Dances and the Trout Pond --- and voluntary additional payments.

Photo: On August 11, 2023 Ranger Reach's Executive Director Craig Campbell presented the Club with a $2,250 cheque for the purchase of additional infielder masks for use by players in the T-Ball leagues. Shown accepting the cheque is Ken Mielke, Ball Program Supervisor and Rick Waud, Treasurer of the Optimist Club of Stanley Park. 

• Grants from organizations including:  Rangers Reach (over several years for additional safety equipment for the Ball Program), the Kitchener Sports Association (for playsreens for our Junior T-Ball League, several grants for additional saftey equipment & ball gloves for the Ball Program and annual funding support of the Club's Fee Assistance Program) , Tobacco Free (for safety material), Healthy Kids - Waterloo Region (for team water jugs in 2011), the K-W Community Foundation (for bicycle helmets for use at the Buke Rodeo)
• Cost-sharing partnerships with entities such as the City of Kitchener, The Grand River Conservation Authority, the local school boards and the Stanley Park Community Assoctaion so major capital projects could become a reality including: The Stanley Park Optimist Natural Area & other improvements along the Walter Bean Trail, numerous local playground structures & outdoor basketball courts and the Career Room at GRCI. 
• In 1993/94, the sale of chocolate bars by participants in the Stanley Park Optimist Ball Program raised over $40,000. These funds helped finance a substantial number of outdoor basketabll courts, baseball diamonds and playground structure in the Stanley Park area of Kitchener. The Club operated the Stanley Park T-Ball Program, later known as the Stanley Park Optimist Ball Program, until 2024 when the Stanley Park Community Association (SPCA) took it over. The Club donated all its ball equipment, and rights to facilities, to the SPCA so it could continue to operate the Ball Program.