Optima Medical, Arizona’s leading primary care provider, donated $15,000 to a program that helps local Yavapai County students prepare for postsecondary education and life after high school. The donation will help fund Naviance, a college and career readiness portal that has been used by students and their families since 2019 thanks to a partnership between Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) and the Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation.
At PUSD, students begin their process of self-discovery, career research, and college or technical school matching starting in 8th grade. The Naviance portal allows parents, guidance counselors and educators to work with students in shaping their career and college futures. The Naviance program reinforces a culture that upholds the expectation of postsecondary education for all students, regardless of their academic achievement, by connecting the dots between student interest and potential career choices.
“Our support for the Naviance college and career readiness program at PUSD will help provide students with the necessary tools and resources to further their academic and career goals,” said Mike O’Neil, Chief Executive Officer at Optima Medical.
Many employees and patients of Optima Medical attended PUSD schools, and several of their children currently attend class in the school district. By placing an emphasis on youth development and career advancement, Optima hopes this donation will leave a lasting impact on current and future residents of Yavapai County.
According to the Arizona Business and Education Coalition, 85% of quality jobs will require some form of post-secondary education and yet only 38% of Arizona’s young adults attain advanced professional training. While prioritizing the importance of healthcare and education, Optima Medical recognized the groundbreaking technology Naviance has to offer and the impact it could have on PUSD students.
In addition to Naviance, the funds also helped create a sensory room at the PUSD Discovery Preschool program.
About Optima Medical
Optima Medical is an Arizona-based medical group consisting of 14 locations and 60 medical providers, who care for more than 120,000 patients statewide. Their mission is to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona by helping communities “Live Better, Live Longer” through personalized healthcare, with a focus on preventing the nation’s top leading causes of death.
Optima Medical goes beyond primary care with a full spectrum of services including cardiovascular health services, behavioral health, allergy testing and immunotherapy, in-house lab testing, imaging, chronic disease management and other specialty health services. The group has six locations in Yavapai County, as well as offices in Casa Grande, Peoria, Safford, Sierra Vista and Tucson. Optima Medical also has recently added locations in Gilbert and Queen Creek.
Optima is looking to expand their regional outreach program by engaging with members of the community through sponsoring school programs and sports, hosting local events, attending hiring fairs and helping those in need. Readers are encouraged to submit suggestions and ideas to [email protected].
For more information visit https://optimamedicalaz.com/ or check us out on FACEBOOK.
About Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation
The PUSD Education Foundation secures funding for programs and activities which either have not been funded or have been under-funded by the normal operating budget. State funding cuts have now become so drastic that private funding from the foundation helps to provide innovative classroom grants for teachers, free teaching supplies to support classroom instruction, career and college preparation for students and teacher recognition and retention programs.
To learn more about the PUSD Education Foundation visit PUSDEducationFoundation.com
