College of Business Administration

GROUP MEMBERS:

Russell Cassella
Karina De La O
Celeste Robles

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Mission Statement:
Our goal for the social change project was to increase the local awareness for the needs of men and women who are leaving the welfare program and attempting to enter the workforce. We plan on fulfilling some of their immediate needs such as collecting donations of professional apparel. As well as, gathering information about interview skills and resume preparation. We set up clothing drives at local businesses such as Union Bank, Cal Fed Bank, and at a local VONS shopping center in a large master planned community. At the conclusion of the drives we collected the clothing and delivered it to the non-profit organization, Suits You San Diego, who distributes the clothing among those people in need. We also attempted to personally solicit clothing stores that specialize in professional apparel, like Dress Barn.

Background:
Suits You San Diego is a local non-profit organization that provides assistance to men and women who are leaving the welfare program and attempting to enter the work force. They provide them with clothes, confidence and skills needed to find a job in today?s competitive market. Suits You San Diego, founded by a former welfare recipient, offers consultation and free business attire to men and women re-entering the work force. In addition, they provide training on effective interviewing, self-esteem, image building, team management and customer service. Suits You San Diego dedicates their time and effort to helping these people accomplish these goals. They collect clothing from local areas and distribute it among the people in the program.

Ethical Justification:
Social Contract Theory
The social contract theory exists when we acknowledge that others need our help. We help them because it?s a moral rule. A rational person will agree to accept this rule of society because it is mutually beneficial. The donor will feel a sense of satisfaction from helping others and will receive a tax deduction. The fact that the recipient no longer has to depend on the welfare system, but could earn their own living by working will make them feel a sense of worth and will help build their self-esteem. The society as a whole also benefits because its one less person on welfare which in the long run will strength our country?s economy.
Deontology
All members of society have a duty or obligation to assist others who are less fortunate. Regardless of the personal or financial benefits it is morally right to help those in need.
Utilitarianism
The action of donating professional clothing is ethically right because it provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people. By donating the clothing and providing professional skills, the recipients will be more likely to gain employment. If they have a job, there will be less people dependent on welfare. Therefore, less government funds will be allocated to that department which could result in lower taxes or funds could be allocated elsewhere. For example, these funds could be used toward education purposes, which means the greatest number of people will receive the good.
Benefits
Since community members and companies are donating excess clothing, they make people in the program better off without making anyone else worse off.

Results:
We collected 5 boxes of professional apparel from the three clothing drives. One of the most important outcomes of this project was the increased level of awareness for this cause among local businesses as well as the community as a whole. This project contributed not only to these men and women, but we also benefited. We became involved in our community by making them aware of this issue and we too learned the need these individuals have. It helped us personally, to open our minds and realize it?s not just the homeless people in need but that there are other issues too.