Ultimate Medical Academy Makes Veterans Day Donation to the Armed Forces Families Foundation

CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 19, 2018—Ultimate Medical Academy concluded an extended Veterans Day celebration on Thursday, Nov. 15 with a donation to the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF) in Clearwater, Florida.

Dr. Rebecca Sarlo, Campus Director of UMA’s Clearwater Campus and other UMA leaders presented a check for $1,000 to AFFF Project Coordinator Joyce Bedard at a ceremony at the Clearwater Campus.

“Our Veterans Day events recognized UMA veterans for their sacrifices and valued skills they bring to UMA and our adult learners,” Sarlo noted at the ceremony. “Military service goes beyond the individual, it includes wives, husbands and children, so supporting foundations like the AFFF is crucial on Veterans Day and throughout the year.”

Bedard said, “Families are the support system for our troops and all too often they do not have the support they need – especially during deployment, so the generosity of partners like Ultimate Medical Academy is so appreciated. The AFFF is honored to provide projects that provide community support to those families.”

Last year AFFF donated a $47,000 playground to families stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.

UMA Manager of IT Service Operations Ray Reeder, an Army veteran, helped present the check to AFFF and praised UMA’s donation and Veterans Day events.

“UMA went above and beyond this year, communicating the importance of veterans and allowing me and others to share our personal stories,” Reeder said. “This helped non-military service employees better understand and relate to us.

“Veterans bring a lot of intangible skills to the workplace; this includes teamwork, diversity and working in varied environments to name a few. As an employee, I always feel valued, and I’ve always pushed the boundaries with my skills to enable the institution to help our graduates pursue fulfilling careers in healthcare.”

Reeder also spoke highly of UMA as an employer of military veterans and spouses. UMA partners with the Military Spousal Employment Partnership to recruit military spouses for various roles in support of the institution’s mission to equip and empower students to excel in healthcare careers.

The check presentation concluded the nonprofit educational institution’s 3-day Veterans Day appreciation event, which included a welcome to work for UMA faculty and staff and Veterans Day appreciation wristbands on Nov. 8, posting social media messages expressing gratitude to veterans, and thanking UMA veterans by sharing three UMA employee service stories, including Reeder’s, in an email from UMA President Derek Apanovitch on Nov. 12.

Find out more about UMA employment opportunities at www.WorkAtUMA.com.