Optum San Diego Public Sector Staff Volunteer at San Diego Youth Services
On December 22, 2015, a group of Optum Public Sector staff volunteered at the San Diego Youth Services’ (SDYS) Transitional Living Communities, which provide supportive housing to youth. The programs are available to emancipated youth, former foster youth, and other youth at-risk of homelessness through Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP+) & THP- Foster Care. SDYS provides supportive housing services to approximately 90 youth and 50 young children each year. Youth are offered safe, stable housing with reduced rent, and other supportive services, primarily provided through case managers and youth advocates.
Optum Staff: Amanda Nye, Kristie Preston, Linda Espinoza and Denise Walker
Optum staff provided and served a holiday luncheon for the program’s participants. The group assisted SDYS’ staff by playing games, crafting, and entertaining guests of all ages. Skylar Hayes, Senior Reports Analyst, planned the volunteer event. He observed, “This event was a great reminder that a little goes a long way. One of Optum’s values is compassion, we are very fortunate to have had an opportunity to positively impact SDYS’ youth and contribute to the holiday luncheon. It’s very touching to see how a program in our own community has a passion to wrap services around the youth that sorely need it. SDYS has a wall where they display hands of past participants with messages of hope. This is a visual reminder that as difficult as things may be, other people have also been in that situation and succeeded. This is also a reminder to all of us to be of service to others. We feel very grateful to spend time with this population and offer holiday cheer and optimism.”
Cynde Perry, THP+/FC Program Manager, shared: “Thank you so much for making the THP holiday party a huge success! We have had so many compliments and stories today, many involving you and your team at Optum for the good food, as well as truly enjoying hanging out with the youth. We look forward to having other events together in the future.”
