College of Business Administration

GROUP MEMBERS:

Elias Berlinger
Brandon Beckman
Zack Danna

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

At the outset of this project we immediately decided that we wanted to do something we were proud of. We were originally thinking we would like to help people in need in order to realize our efforts more immediately, as apposed to doing something like a recycling project which takes longer to yield results. We thought we could do this by donating goods to those who need them. At first we were thinking along the lines of a food or clothing drive. We thought that this would be our most effective way of reaching a lot of people in need of help. Soon though, we found that our group could get some donations from the Inns of America hotel chain, as one of our group members works for them. Once we found this out, our group began moving towards trying to get beds, which we could then donate to a shelter of some sort. We felt that since we had access to something of this nature we could make a big difference in people’s lives.

Now that our project had some direction, we concentrated on finding an organization that was in need of help and also an organization whose goals we approved of. We wanted to direct our search for an organization dealing with battered women or troubled families. Immediately we found that donating entire beds was not going to be a feasible project. There was going to be problems with both the delivery and storage of beds. This changed our thinking and as a group we came up with the idea of just donating bedding materials and towels that the hotel periodically changed out. All the material we had access to was clean and in good condition. We figured that we there would be many needy organizations that would have an immediate use for our donation.

Once we had a clear idea of what we were donating, we could fully concentrate on finding an organization we would be happy to work with. This next part proved to be the most frustrating part of our project. Our group began scouring the internet and the telephone book for organizations we could help. After playing phone tag with many of these organizations we finally got a hold of several places. We were surprised to find that they were not taking donations. They said that they had just gotten donations and were no longer looking for in need of anything. We also actually found an organization that said that after they received the donations, they would then sell the materials. We could not believe that. After weeks of searching we finally found an organization that we sincerely respected. It is called the Oz foundation and it is an affiliate of the YMCA.

The Oz foundation is a temporary home for teenagers who are in need. According to our contact, Program Coordinator for Oz San Diego Mr. Benjamin Barnard, the name Oz came from the Wizard of Oz’s famous line, “there’s no place like home.” That is exactly what the organization does, it provides a temporary home that helps the teens and their families with the problems they are having. The shelter is open to youth 12-17 years old and their families. Referrals for candidates come from law enforcement, doctors, social workers, attorneys, schools, probation officers and family and friends. The shelter we visited in the Clairmont Mesa area had ten beds available. Teens can stay for up to two weeks in most cases. The exception is when Oz holds foster children, who can stay for up to 90 days. Oz has been around since 1970 and provides counseling and restructuring to the lives of the teens. Residents of the shelter mandatory schooling that takes place in a classroom in the rear of the shelter (the shelter itself looks like an ordinary home in a suburban neighborhood). At the school they can do work assigned from their teachers, or earn credits toward schooling or GED’s. Mr. Barnard actually told us that multiple students have received a GED while at the shelter.

The foster kids who stay at the shelter are provided work. All residents are provided eight weeks of aftercare at which they can meet with a family counselor or a multi-family group. After the initial eight week there are yearly follow-up on former residents. The shelter employs six full time child care workers to meet with the kids, two counselors who have sessions with the teens, and one licensed therapist. Oz sees 175-200 teens per year and works with 500-600 family members. The goal of the organization is to give structure to the lives of troubles teens. Funding is provided by state grants, one to two federal grants and health care is provided by Kaiser Permanente and Pacific Care.

We visited the shelter once as a group to see if it would fit what we were looking for. After being there for a short time we were sure it would be the place. We communicated with Mr. Barnard who told us approximately how much material he could use. We got him enough linens and bedding material to furnish all the beds in the shelter and fill his storage room. He told us that the stock would last him for one or two years.

Overall providing the donation and working with the shelter has been a positive experience for all of us. We had a tough time initially finding an appropriate donation spot but once we did we felt that our efforts made a difference. By providing the donation we feel that we did a small part to aid in the lives of the 200-400 teens who will use what we donated.