Staff Writer

At Oklahoma City-based Valir Health, community involvement is a key part of the company's mission. And for many local schools, assistance from corporate partners is vital to the success of both students and teachers.

So when Valir and Eugene Field Elementary came together, it was a partnership that promised to be rewarding for both.

"Business partners play a big role in a school's success, so I've tried to encourage several school business partners to get involved with us," said Dr. Wilbur House, principal of Eugene Field, in the Oklahoma City Public Schools district. "When I first I came to the school we didn't have that, and there wasn't that much as far as institutions in tbe community being involved in the school. We've been very fortunate to increase substantially that particular involvement."

The partnership formed a little over a year ago, when Crossings Community Church, another partner of the school, introduced House to the Valir leadership team. Since then, Valir has provided school supplies and hats and gloves for the approximately 550 students, in addition to helping with school carnivals and sponsoring student of the month, teacher of the month and assistant of the month

But the students aren't the only ones benefitting from Valir's involvement; the teachers are as well. Valir hosted a BBQ lunch for the teachers on their first day back, and bought new furniture for the teachers lounge when it was remodeled.

"It helps people feel good about themselves, it helps them to feel professional, and positive, and with that in mind, hopefully they will do a good job with the children, and I think the end result is, it does help staff morale," House said.

"I guess the end result is doing a better job with the kids, but it does help greatly with staff morale when they feel that people in the community are caring about them."

Eugene Field works with several business partners in the community, and having a company outside the education field, such as Valir, take such an interest in the school is a demonstration of the diversity of local institutions who share the school's commitment to education and Oklahoma City's children, House said.

And for many companies, partnering with local schools is a good way to connect with the communities they serve.

"I would think that it can provide a business some good PR and some good communication. It's a feel-good, look-good type of situation," House said. "We all have a vested interest in educating the children, because the better the education they get, the better citizen, and the better service we'll get once they're out in the community.

"And I think that's the way some look at it: we want to do our part."

For Valir, its community outreach efforts, which also include participating in the Arthritis Walk, Heart Walk and Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, are valuable in creating name recognition.

"It's getting us out there, getting our name known, and it's really good for all of our staff to give back to society in this way," said Betty Williams, RN, director of nursing at Valir Rehabilitation Hospital.

The company's partnership with the school has also shown employees how important of a role they play in the community.

"It's impacted the company by allowing us to see how important it is to remember to give back to others," Williams said.

While Eugene Field appreciates what Valir has done for the students and teachers, there's not much the school can do to say thank you, except write them nice letters or memos," House said.

However, this past Christmas, a group of students did go to Valir to sing Christmas carols for employees and residents.

It was an experience that warmed everyone's heart, Williams said.

"That was a really good event for our patients, because they enjoyed it, and it was good for the students, too, to really see who we were, because they're used to getting things from us, but they don't really know who we are that well," Williams said.