San Juan, PR – All of us Abarcans are hard-wired to believe that healthcare can be awesome. As we have found out during the evaluation and selection phase of the ten finalist organizations for the Oasis Community Program, we are not alone in this belief.
When we launched the call for proposals for Oasis Community Program, our goal was to identify nonprofit organizations that, like Abarca, seek to improve healthcare in their communities through innovative means. After engaging with more than 50 NGOs, it became evident to all of us in the Oasis Community Program Committee that opportunities abound for our company to support others in their search for a better way.
This journey to selecting the ten finalists has been rewarding as it has been interesting. We can think of no situation that would afford us the amazing experience of sharing a room with a kind-hearted nun from Guánica, a young woman motivated to empower MS patients following her mother’s diagnosis, and a kick-ass female scientist keen on having more women pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Further, to have received recognition from the organizations themselves for placing Abarcans at the center of this initiative fuels us to continue improving on our own processes to do well and do good at Abarca.
“I am grateful for the opportunity you have given us to express our throughs about this process and the interactions that it allows. It makes us feel that the process of requesting donations is more human and not just a bureaucratic process where we are one of many applicants. Thank you, Abarca, for creating this experience that definitely took us out of our routine!” said Agnes Acosta from IDIIFCO.
“In my 25 years of working at non-profit organizations, I have never before witnessed such an innovative process. I congratulate the team that put this initiative together, which I believe will yield high-quality volunteer services for the organizations that are ultimately selected,” said Lydia Figueroa Cuevas of YMCA San Juan.
The depth and breadth of projects, programs, campaigns, and initiatives we evaluated were overwhelming and make us overwhelmingly hopeful for the future of healthcare on the island. To know that we will soon have the chance to help some of these organizations take their projects to the next level and directly impact the lives of so many people feels amazing. It also reminds us of the privilege of being part of an organization with the vision and the means to change lives.
The energy and enthusiasm of my fellow Abarcans have also been palpable throughout this process, and I am very proud of what we have achieved so far. Getting to know the stories of our ten finalists directly from them has only increased our excitement because their passion for their projects is truly contagious.
You can learn more about the ten finalists by visiting our YouTube channel. We hope the stories of these ten finalists will inspire and encourage you to also support them. What’s more, we look forward to witnessing the power of Abarcans at work, putting forth our time and effort to help these organizations find a better way, and make healthcare awesome for everyone.
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*This blog was written by Nayda Rivera, director of Industry Partnerships and chair of the Oasis Community Program Committee