Taco Bell Foundation and BGCD Team Up to Help More Dallas Hidh Schoolers Graduate

DALLAS - June 1, 2015 - PRLog -- On Friday, May 30, 2015, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas hosted an event in honor of the more than 500 local high schoolers who graduated in the Class of 2015, as well as those who plan to graduate in the Classes of 2016 and 2017. The celebration featured inspirational speaker and author, Baylor Barbee and plenty of delicious food was provided by Taco Bell®.

"Graduation season is our favorite time of year. We've watched the young men and women in our community work so hard to get to this point and it's a thrill to share in their joy of earning that diploma," said Wanda Nimer, VP of Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. "We appreciate the  Taco Bell® Foundation for recognizing our new grads and committing to our future ones through the Foundation's long-term support right here in Dallas."

The grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas was part of a new, five-year partnership between the Taco Bell® Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America that is expected to raise $30 million to support more teenagers and improve America's high school graduation rate.

"Taco Bell®'s legacy is largely tied to teen empowerment. Our founder Glen Bell actually discovered his passion for food in his youth while helping his family farm during the Great Depression," said Regina Borda, managing director of the Taco Bell® Foundation. "Over the years, Taco Bell® has witnessed our scholarship recipients, our teen customers and our teen employees truly achieve mas. The partnership between the Taco Bell® Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an extension of our steadfast commitment to see as many teens as possible graduate and go on to do great things."

-Locally, the partnership with the Taco Bell® Foundation help rising eigth and ninth graders transition into high school with the tools and mindset needed to excel in high school, and beyong. Teens will have new opportunities to:

-Participate in high school workshops and coaching programs;

-Gain access to an online community for peer support;

-Meet with mentors in their local area;

-Learn about the college experience with visits to trade schools, colleges and universities across the country; and

-Attend career preparation and course planning sessions.

A National Scholarship Task Force also will be established to identify and secure $83 million in scholarhsip and financial aid opportunities over the next five years for all teen Boys & Girls Club members.

By 2018, the partnership will provide resources to nearly all 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs sites, with a goal of helping more than half a million teens stay on track to graduate, which will represent a 10 percent improvement over current national graduation trends and can produce approximately $14 billion in economic impact for the nation.

About Taco Bell® Foundation

Taco Bell Foundation Inc., also known as Taco Bell® Foundation, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation committed to inspiring and enabling America’s teens to graduate from high school and achieve más through its programs, partnerships, and direct financial assistance. Since 1992, the Foundation has served over 3 million teens in 6,000 communities across the country where Taco Bell restaurants have a presence. Through the support of our customers, franchisees, employees and vendor-partners over the last 20 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $75 million in grants and scholarships focused on education and career readiness. For more information on the Foundation and its commitment to teens – Taco Bell team members, friends and future leaders – visit  www.tacobellfoundation.org or www.graduateformas.com. (http://www.graduateformas.com/)

About Taco Bell Corp.

Taco Bell Corp (http://www.tacobell.com/)., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., , is the nation's leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell serves made to order and customizable tacos,  burritos,  and  specialties  such  as  the  exclusive Doritos®    Locos  Tacos,  gourmet- inspired  Cantina  Bell®   Menu (http://www.cantinabell.com/) and  lower calorie  Fresco  Menu. (http://www.tacobell.com/food/menu/fresco)  The  company  encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through its food and in ways such as its  Feed The Beat (http://www.feedthebeat.com/)® music program and its nonprofit organization, the Taco Bell  Foundation for Teens (http://www.tacobellfoundationforteens.org/)™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise organizations have nearly 6,000 restaurants across the United States that proudly serve more than 36 million customers every week.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

In 2015, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas is celebrating 50 years of providing life-changing services for more than a quarter of a million youth in Dallas and surrounding areas. BGCD’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programming in three core areas meets the diverse needs and interests of their 6,000 Club members. These core areas include: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. For more information, please visit www.bgcdallas.org.