Maria Merce
Martin Founder and CEO of Optime Consulting, a multinational marketing and sales firm headquartered in Weston PHILANTHROPY: The Optime 5K Run, which raises money that has been used to build the Optime Innovation Room, an advanced techbehavorial preschool classroom at United Community Options (UCO) Broward What is the Optime Innovation Room? A green dream is a classroom designed to boost imagination, embrace education and reward progress and success. Our main objective is to engage with educators, parents and kids to define attainable behavior goals that show progress, recognition and ultimately a sense of pride that can be contagious. This classroom, in lime green and light aqua with recessed lighting, provides a bright, refreshing new space that the UCO center deserves. It was created to make a change in the way education is viewed for kids and adults with developmental disabilities. Why has it become a success? Circle Time starts the day on a bright note by welcoming the kids with top-of-the-line technology like the Tech Wall, where technology and learning become synonymous. Imagination Area is a stage for plays imagined, works of art created, and creativity run wild. Quiet Room is a relaxing and comforting environment designed to reduce stress. Master Area is designed for teachers to plan their day. It becomes a meeting spot all day long for students and teachers. All of these areas create a classroom where challenges become opportunities and dreams a reality, offering a tremendous environment where children are able to nurture their physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills. They love it! How has the Innovation Room and its success changed your life? My life has become more valuable through my philanthropy. I believe that everything I do should have a purpose. It makes my heart full to see the smiles on the faces of the UCO team and students. (There are more than 1,800 infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities in UCO of South Florida.) So I am thankful that I am a leader who can help others strive and achieve a better quality of life.
inWESTON MAGAZINE
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