This year the Taco Bell Foundation is awarding $23 MILLION in community grants to over 450 youth-serving nonprofits. In the communities where Tacala operates, $1,378,200 in grants will be distributed to 52 teen serving agencies. The Taco Bell Foundation is marking June 5th as a day of celebration for this amazing milestone.
The money raised through the hard work of our Service Champions and the generosity of our customers makes a BIG impact in our communities. One of our preferred partner organizations, the Boys and Girls Clubs, exists to ensure a better future for all young people with life-enhancing programs, and caring mentors. Taylor Bradbury, The Director of Academic Success in the Austin region, says the Boys and Girls Club “helps all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.”
Jared Goins, The Director of Teen Services of the Ocoee Region, shared that through Tacala’s support, their teens – many of whom have never left Tennessee – were able to attend an annual ELEVATE High School Leadership Conference and an annual College Road Trip. Jared said these opportunities serve “to increase and diversify their exposure to the countless options they have access to, though most of them had no idea. There were at least 10 of those high school students that had never given any thought to college.” As a result of the college road trip, one student decided to attend college and will be starting in the fall!
By supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs, and other teen serving community agencies, we help unlock opportunities that would not be possible otherwise. The Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama recently sent a group to compete in the Cal Ripken STEM Challenge and won first place in the country! There are two other groups traveling to Washington D.C. this summer for STEM and Advocacy programs. Suzanne Rainey, VP of Resource Development of the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama, says “these kinds of experiences and exposure is what helps them feel like they ‘belong at the table’ and realize their future goals.”
Suzanne has seen the BGC create a lasting positive impact in the lives of young people; witnessing first hand “kids growing up out of poverty creating generational change.”
To us it is more than providing financial support; it’s fostering community partnerships with these organizations and driving positive relationships by sharing Tacala’s recognition culture. If our goal is to breaks down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America’s leaders we need to make sure that these future leaders take the time to honor their own achievements. Recently, five areas supported their local club’s GRADUATION CELEBRATION. Market Coach Gubiel Aviles (Texas), and Area Coaches Katie Dye (Huntsville), Bernard Evans (Columbus, GA), Prince Agyemang (Chattanooga, TN), and Pam Hill (Birmingham) each gathered their respective teams to help make these celebrations special. Of course, what made them special is RECOGNITION and TACOS for all!
The festivities surrounding the milestone of graduation allowed the current seniors to celebrate their accomplishments as well as show the younger club members what is possible with hard work.
Every year the grant dollars are increasing as we build new restaurants and our teams grow their passion for asking customers to Round Up. The Boys and Girls Club is just one example of our community partnerships – we also partner with organizations that teach teens about urban farming, how to make a documentary, and facilitate active civics and character programs in K-12 classrooms. You can find a list of all 52 2024 community grant recipients below.
Do you know of a non-profit organization that provides direct services for youth academic success, mentorship, college and career exploration and readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, 21st-century skill, and socio-emotional well-being? We’d love to invite them to apply for a grant if they meet the criteria and provide services within Tacala’s geography. Please submit the name of the organization and their mission to Tacala.Communications@Tacala.com and we’ll add to the list for the 2024-2025 grant cycle.
Thank you for fueling passions and impacting the local communities where we live and do business!
2024 COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS
ALABAMA (14)
A.G. GASTON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, INC.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WEST ALABAMA
ALABAMA POSSIBLE
HISPANIC INTEREST COALITION OF ALABAMA
JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S THEATRE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF EAST ALABAMA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LAKE EUFAULA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE WIREGRASS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTH ALABAMA
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ALABAMA
LIBERTY LEARNING FOUNDATION
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE RIVER REGION
GEORGIA (9)
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF MOULTRIE/COLQUITT COUNTY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF COFFEE COUNTY
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GEORGIA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA—ATLANTA UNIT
BRIDGING THE GAP EDUCATIONAL, INC.
BOY AND GILS CLUBS OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LAURENS & JOHNSON COUNTIES
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF VALDOSTA
TENNESSEE (15)
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE OCOEE REGION
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GORDAN, MURRAY, AND WHITFIELD
GIRLS, INC. OF CHATTANOOGA
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE CLINCH VALLEY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF MORRISTOWN
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DUMPLIN VALLEY
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EAST TENNESSEE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF ELIZABETHTON/CARTER COUNTY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREENEVILLE AND GREENE COUNTY
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF KINGSPORT
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF JOHNSON CITY/WASHINGTON COUNTY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE
VIRGINIA (1)
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF KINGSPORT
NORTH CAROLINA (1)
SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER CHARLOTTE
TEXAS (10)
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE AUSTIN AREA
AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS (YOUTHBUILD AUSTIN)
COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS UT AUSTIN
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER HOUSTON
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SOUTH TEXAS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF UVALDE/BANDERA COUNTY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF BRAZOS VALLEY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL TEXAS
COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS TAMU
KENTUCKY (2)
BOY AND GIRLS CLUBS OF HARLAN COUNTY
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BLUEGRASS
