SDSU and the San Diego Padres Team Up to
Fight Poverty in the Dominican Republic
SDSU students to provide financial help and business consulting for new enterprises
in one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.
SAN DIEGO (July 16, 2009) - The College of Business Administration at San Diego State University (SDSU) announced today the next phase of a joint endeavor with the San Diego Padres in the ongoing effort to provide new economic opportunities for people living near the Padres Dominican Republic Baseball Park in the city of Najayo.
Thirty-eight SDSU students enrolled in the university’s Sports Business MBA program returned this month from the Dominican Republic where they stayed and studied in the Padres’ state-of-the-art player development complex. During their 10-day stay, they interviewed community members and studied the socio-economic climate of the region with the intent of investing $20,000 in new economically viable entrepreneurial ventures.
The students are currently in the process of developing four comprehensive business plans for the proposed ventures.
It is the first time ever that an American university and a major league sports team have collaborated to provide microfinance capital and other incentives designed to stimulate economic growth in an international setting.
“There’s been more of an emphasis on corporate social responsibility by Major League Baseball in the Dominican Republic and the Padres have stepped out front with its support of this unique educational partnership,” said Dr. John Francis, the SDSU management professor and co-creator of the program. “This project provides an enriching real-world educational experience for SDSU students, but it also offers tangible economic benefits for a community in dire need.”
“The skills developed by this project in Najayo are applicable to other segments of the increasingly global sports industry,” said Scott Minto, director of SDSU’s Sports Business MBA program. “The class has the opportunity to learn firsthand how the power of sport can help organizations like the Padres break down political, economic and cultural barriers to make a positive impact on an international level.”
SDSU College of Business Administration 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-8230
Student Services East #3220 Tel: (619) 594-5259 Fax: (619) 594-1573 Email: business@sdsu.edu