CCHCI Employee Yvette Montano Receives Soroptimist Scholarship Award

DOUGLAS, AZ  – Yvette Montaño is a full time Cochise College student, full time single mother and a full time administrative assistant to the chief executive officer of Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. Despite difficult life challenges, Montaño has overcome and works hard to provide a good life for herself and her 11 year old daughter. She recently was awarded the Live Your Dream Award from Soroptimist of Desert Tucson, which provided $3000.00 that she put toward her tuition at Cochise College.

Soroptimist of Desert Tucson is part of a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of woman and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The name, Soroptimist, means “best for women” and exemplifies the organization’s goal of women working together around the world to help other women do and be their best. Since 1972, the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards program has disbursed more than $25 million to tens of thousands of women who have overcome poverty, domestic and sexual violence, divorce, the death of a spouse, or other life challenges. They are women who had the courage and determination to turn their lives around.

Yvette Montaño qualified for this award for being able to overcome a significant hardship. She said had been told she would never amount to anything. Now she feels that she has proven wrong those that would doubt her. She said, “I do it for myself, to better myself and to not give up.”

Montaño began working at Chiricahua Community Health Centers in Douglas as a patient service representative in 2007. While working in this capacity she realized she had a true passion for managing the business rather than working directly with patients. She said her work at Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. has inspired her to aim for higher goals for herself primarily so she can do more for others. “I felt when I began working that I wanted to do more to help people.”

She is currently attending Cochise College to obtain an associate degree in business management. She is expected to graduate in May 2017. She promised her daughter she’d take one semester off school before applying to the University of Arizona South after graduation. Montaño said, “My mom has always talked of opening a restaurant. I tell her, I can manage that for you.”

Jonathan Melk, M.D. chief executive officer and chief medical officer of Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. said, “Yvette brings many assets to CCHCI’s administrative operations. She is smart, committed and shows determination to continuously learn and develop professionally. CCHCI is fortunate to have her as a part of our organization, and I am proud that she won this award. She definitely deserves it!”