Optiver US Charitable Task Force: Fostering community outreach and educational support
Optiver has taken a stand to make a genuine difference. Establishing the Optiver US Charitable Task Force at the onset of 2022, we embarked on a mission to redefine the way we interact with the communities in the cities we call home. The initiative became comprised of a group of motivated employees, bringing together a diverse team with varying roles and tenures at the firm, joined by one purpose.
The Charitable Task Force’s primary objective was to identify areas within the community where Optiver could lend a helping hand. Following a thorough internal survey to grasp the interests of our employees, three main themes emerged: sustainable and healthy food, supporting underserved areas and promoting STEM education. The task force diligently sought to find communities and projects that resonated with these focal themes, leading to a partnership with Erie Elementary, a charter school on the West side of Chicago.
Erie Elementary, which has a bilingual curriculum, stood out as a great fit for Optiver’s community involvement ambitions from the onset. The school’s endeavor to provide quality STEM education in both English and Spanish, along with its need for improved nutritional offerings for students, aligned with the objectives of Optiver’s Charitable Task Force. However, the task of enhancing the school’s meal offerings was not devoid of challenges. The school was in dire need of upgraded food preparation facilities, a hurdle that Optiver was more than willing to help overcome.
With a charitable donation, we facilitated the acquisition of essential culinary equipment for Erie Elementary, enabling the school to enhance the quality and nutritional value of meals offered to students. This intervention not only sustained the young learners, but also enriched their time spent in school, ensuring they remained attentive and engaged during school hours.
“The partnership has allowed Erie to offer a new, healthy lunch program to our students and staff. For years, the meals we provided were not being eaten by students. Now that we have better offerings, students are eating – and eating healthier for breakfast and lunch. When children have a proper lunch, they are engaged in learning and focused in classes.”
– Carlos Perez, Executive Director of Erie Elementary
The collaboration didn’t stop at the cafeteria. Optiver extended its involvement into the classrooms. Organizing visits to the school, employees interacted with students, assisting them with math problems and engaging in science experiments. This hands-on involvement provided a heartening experience for both the students and the volunteers, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the real-world applications of math and science.
Optiver’s partnership with Erie Elementary resulted in a 2023 Leadership Legacy Award. Erie honored our firm at their annual “Evening with the Eagles” event, a testament to the impact Optiver had made within their community. Moreover, the interaction opened doors for further collaborations aimed at bolstering Erie’s bilingual STEM curriculum, with Optiver pledging to support the upskilling of teachers and the provision of new curriculum materials.
“I look forward to seeing how this partnership will grow and evolve. The needs around math, critical thinking and problem solving are central to all of our graduates’ success. Continuing our partnership, which can help improve our ability to do that work, makes me optimistic about what our students will achieve.”
– Carlos Perez, Executive Director of Erie Elementary
The journey with Erie Elementary is a hallmark of Optiver’s commitment to making a lasting impact in the communities we operate in. It underscores the essence of corporate responsibility, exemplifying how concerted efforts between business and educational institutions can foster a conducive learning environment for our youth – the leaders of tomorrow.
