S.U.C.C.E.S.S. OPTIMIST CLUB
OF SAN DIEGO

For over twenty-five years, Bob Langhorst has been a very active member of Optimist International. In 2001, the Optimists declared that their primary focus would be supporting children with cancer, as well as their families and care partners. From the very beginning of the Childhood Cancer Campaign, Bob has been deeply involved, traveling throughout the United States teaching Optimist clubs and hospital representatives how to build a bridge of cooperation.

Bob distinguished himself as District Childhood Cancer Campaign Chairperson from 2001 through 2003, and was responsible for starting six clubs, all dedicated to helping childhood cancer victims. Bob founded the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Optimist Club specifically to improve the environment of the children at Kaiser Permanente of San Diego, and went on to teach other clubs how to "adopt a hospital".

In November of 2003, Bob visited artist and longtime family friend, Dan Evers, recruiting him into the club with the intention of making a tile mural with the children at Kaiser Permanente. After several visits to the hospital, along with a great deal of optimistic and creative thinking, the Children's Rainforest Project was born. Bob was elected International Vice President of Optimists in 2004-2005, where he has tirelessly promoted the necessity and virtues of this program.

In June of 2005, the dedication and hard work paid off when Nathaniel Oubre', Senior Vice President of Kaiser Permanente of San Diego, and Bob Langhorst of SUCCESS Optimist Club signed the first agreement of its kind, and put the Children's Rainforest Project into motion.