Who is the Herndon Optimist Club?
Since 1961, the not-for-profit, all volunteer Optimist Club of Herndon, VA has been dedicated to providing a helping hand to the youth in our greater-Herndon-Reston community. Our youth civic programs engage the children in our community in positive ways with our local school and law enforcement personnel and execute activities that benefit our community. Our youth sports programs offer over two thousand children each year the opportunity to learn sports-related skills and that responsibility, teamwork, sportsmanship, and integrity are just as important as winning.
We are the legal entity under which the following sports programs operate:
Herndon Reston Youth Baseball (HRYB)
Haley Smith Basketball / Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB)
Herndon Optimist Youth Travel Basketball (HOYTB)
Herndon Optimist Youth Cheerleading (HOYC)
Herndon-Reston Youth Field Hockey (HRYFH)
Herndon Optimist Youth Flag Football (HOYFF)
Herndon-Reston Youth Lacrosse (HRYL)
The Herndon Optimist Club (HOC) Board of Directors is focused on and committed to delivering on our mission of service to the youth of our community. If you have suggestions for new youth civic or sports programs or need assistance, please use the Contact Us information at the bottom of this page and a member of the HOC Board of Directors will get back to you as soon as possible.
Announcements
Congratulations to our HOC 2025 College Scholarship Winners!
Each year Herndon Optimist Club members select up to three young sports persons who have participated in Herndon Optimist Club programs and demonstrated a commitment to serve their community to each receive $2,000 to be used for their first year of college tuition.
Congratulations to Avalon Gallardo, Brayden Humpherys (Jerry Yates Memorial Scholarship winner), and Analiese Jones on being selected as recipients of one of the 2025 Herndon Optimist College Scholarship Awards! We wish you a great college experience and continued success.
News
Welcome to Annelise Castillo, HOC Sports Program Director for Basketball!
Annelise has been part of Herndon youth basketball her whole life. Initially as a player in Herndon Optimist Youth House (Haley Smith) and Travel Basketball (HOYHB-HOYTB). Later as a referee and Game Officials Director for HOYHB-Haley Smith Basketball and as a Herndon High School (HHS) girls basketball player. Currently Annelise is a Deputy Comissioner for HOYHB-HOYTB and an assistant coach for HHS girls basketball. We are thrilled to have her join us as a Director on the HOC Board!
Upcoming Events
Join Us for Friday Night Live Starting May 2nd!
The Herndon Optimist Club coordinates and provides Event Staff volunteers for the Friday Night Live! (FNL) family-oriented outdoor music concerts held every Friday night from 6-10pm May 2nd through August 22nd. In return, the Dulles Chamber of Commerce donates a portion of the event proceeds to the Herndon Optimist Club to fund its administration and civic programs such as National Night Out. For more information on FNL, including a schedule of bands, please visit www.herndonrocks.com.
Join us for National Night Out Tuesday August 5th!
The Herndon Optimist Club youth sports programs host "Herndon Optimist Families Night Out" at a local park. Kids receive ice cream treats for completing three sports stations. The Herndon Police Department officers and Town Council members stop by to meet local families.
General Information
