Demand State Farm Honor The Promise To Kids In Roseland/Chicago

I, Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off the Block (KOB), am writing this letter as a petition in hopes that it will prompt State Farm to reconsider their documented agreement to sponsor and support the thirty-five (35) youth basketball participants of KOB. An organization, which is located in Chicago’s Roseland community, built upon the foundation of enrichment, empowerment, commitment, and integrity. All of these principles we instill in our youth. Thus, it is of the utmost importance that we align and associate ourselves with organizations that have similar goals, missions, and values. At a point, we believed in State Farm and the organization represented by a slogan "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." As you read the documented details below also note how you can help us regain our faith in a major corporation and it’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

In February 2016, Kids Off the Block (KOB) received an email from Alberto Ricoellis— Better State CREW Field Market Manager Chicago Market—about an opportunity with the NBA Random Acts of Assist BSM to commence April 2016. The communications initiated by Mr. Ricoellis stated the organization was offering and agreeing to buy basketball shoes for the KOB program participants. The correspondence stated the budget was $2,000 to purchase shoes from a local store. When the announcement was made both myself and the KOB basketball participants became so excited, the kids could not wait!

Shortly thereafter, I spoke to Nike representatives and proposed to purchase the shoes from their factory store. At this time, Nike also became excited about the initiative and pending purchases for the youth of KOB. Furthermore, they joined the initiative and committed to giving the youth additional gifts to compliment their shoes, which includes T-shirts, wristbands, etc. Based on the communications from these two organizations we were excited to say the least and anticipating an uplifting, and beautiful event. Upon confirmation of event approval from Mr. Ricoellis, I began obtaining the shoe and T-shirt sizes of each KOB basketball participant. In addition, I initiated communication with various media outlets to publicize on a global scale how State Farm was exercising corporate social responsibility to enrich the lives of inner city youth.

Unfortunately, last week I called Mr. Ricoellis to share the details of Nike’s commitment to also sponsor the youth of Kids Off the Block. It wasn’t until this time that I received an update stating State Farm hadn't approved the aforementioned sponsorship, which is very contradictory. It seems very unprofessional and unethical that there was a two month gap without any notification that KOB would not be in receipt of the previously agreed upon donations or approval had been terminated for unknown reasons. I inquired, “Why?” His response, "I jumped ahead of myself!" I waited a couple of days, today, Monday, April 25, 2016, I called back hoping State Farm would honor the "promise" and agreement, but this was to no avail.

In essence, we would like to see this matter as a human-centered worldview (HWV) where the business environment is one of many components in a system, and profitability as but one goal to achieve. However, based on State Farm’s recent communications and withdrawal of donations we view this matter as organization-centered worldview (OWV) where profitability of the company is the primary focus, sadly. Change our thought process by choosing a humanitarian or moral decision to correct this matter and provide the agreed upon shoe donations. The potential human benefits are greater than State Farm being competitive in the market or profitable, would you agree? Thanks in advance for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Diane Latiker