Father trying to be optimistic after his daughter's death
Starts local chapter of Optimist International in honor of Kylie Pinheiro
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

Kylie Pinheiro

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Seven months after a tragic ending to his daughter's life, Scott Pinheiro is trying to turn his tears, and the tears of others, into smiles.

Pinheiro has formed a new chapter of Optimist International for people in South Brunswick and Monroe; he had previously been a member of Optimist International for 12 years prior.

At the time, he had one main reason why he wanted to join the club: "I wanted to provide some community service to the youth of the community," Pinheiro said.

Now, he started a new chapter for an entirely different reason.

"This came about from a tragedy," Pinheiro said, speaking about his daughter's death. "That is what really started the club in South Brunswick. We're trying to get some good out of the whole thing."

Scott's daughter, Kylie, was an 18- year-old college student who was killed by a driver charged with a DWI in late December, according to police reports.

Pinheiro said his daughter was an optimist herself and that she loved working with kids in community service projects.

"Her legacy will be to continue to provide services to youth," Pinheiro said. "She knew the value of community service. I hope [my work with the Optimist Club] kind of instilled that in her."

It is not just Kylie's father that is doing work with the club. Kylie's boyfriend, Andrew, and most of her closest friends, are involved with the club.

Pinheiro detailed a few of the events that the club will be participating in soon, including Walk Like MADD, to benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving, taking place Oct. 11 in Philadelphia.

"A lot of her friends are going to participate in that walk," Pinheiro said.

The club also sponsors essay contests for junior and senior high school students, the Junior Golf Championships in Florida each year and Respect for Law Week, which honors local law enforcement.

Pinheiro said the first few meetings have gone well, most of which were organizational in nature. They recruited members and put together a board of directors. Forty-two people are signed up to start this club, which Pinheiro views as a great number.

"It allows us to perpetuate optimism as a way of life to others and that's important to me," he said.

Optimist International has been around since 1919. The clubs "conduct positive service projects aimed at providing a helping hand to youth," according to its Web site, www.optimist.org. There are 101,000 members who belong to 3,200 clubs. Members conduct 65,000 service projects and spend $78 million on their communities annually.

The club meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the South Brunswick Municipal Building, Ridge Road.