This week Taco Bell elevates teens’ potential; kicks off national fundraiser to support brand’s ongoing commitment to youth education and pledge to hire 1.5 million youth through 2022
Irvine, Calif., 2015-8-13— /EPR Retail News/ — For more than 20 years, Taco Bell has paved the way for teens to graduate from high school and gain the confidence to reach their full potential. Now, Taco Bell, together with the Taco Bell Foundation, is recognizing teens who have pursued their passions with the launch of #SeeMyPotential. This campaign is aimed at raising awareness and advocacy for teens to ignite their passion and reach their full potential – beginning with a high school diploma.
“Today’s youth are the heart and soul of our brand and the communities in which we serve,” said Brian Niccol, chief executive officer, Taco Bell. “Nearly two million young people have had the opportunity to gain important skills by working at Taco Bell and countless others walk through our doors every day. Through investments in training, programming, scholarships and grants Taco Bell, our franchisees, our customers and the Taco Bell Foundation provide encouragement and support for this critical generation as they look to follow their dreams and become the leaders of tomorrow.”
#SeeMyPotential
As teens head back to the classroom, the Taco Bell Foundation with the support of Taco Bell franchisees, are building on the momentum of their successful #RecognizePotential campaign that ran during the 2015 graduation season, with the launch of #SeeMyPotential. This campaign highlights the fact that it takes a community to help teens stay on the path to graduation by giving Taco Bell fans, including teens and adults, a platform to share their successes and thank the mentors and friends who helped them on their journey. Everyone is encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media using the hashtag and to tag a supportive friend or mentor who has helped them see that potential through.
#SeeMyPotential is supported by creative visuals – developed with Taco Bell partner Deutsch L.A. – featured on Taco Bell’s social channels and in participating restaurants. The campaign will support the brand’s national fundraising efforts for the back to school season that will continue through August 24. Donations can be made through www.TacoBellFoundation.org or at one of 6,000 Taco Bell restaurants nationwide. The funds raised during these efforts will support training, programming, scholarships and grants that help to empower today’s youth and enable them to follow their dreams.
Youth Training and Education
Taco Bell was one of the first companies to join the newly-launched 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, which aims to engage at least 100,000 opportunity youth – 16- to 24-year olds who face systemic barriers to jobs and education – by the end of 2018 through apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and both part- and full-time jobs. Taco Bell will take part in an Opportunity Fair & Forum for Opportunity Youth in Chicago on August 13, where its local franchisees have committed to hiring 45 local youth on-the-spot. Between now and 2022, Taco Bell and its franchisees will hire roughly 1.5 million more local youth nationwide for restaurant-level positions.
As a company that gives many young Americans their very first job, and is engaging youth through the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, Taco Bell proudly invests in developing leaders for the next generation through education, job and life skills. Taco Bell’s vision of seeing 100 percent of high school students’ graduate is supported by a number of programs for team and community members alike, including:
- GED: Taco Bell funds company employee scholarships for team members to earn high school diploma equivalents.
- Career Online High School Scholarship Program: Team members have the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate through Career Online High School – the ONLY online accredited school district.
- Excelsior College Program: Team members have access to flexible online degree options at a 40 percent discount for a fully accredited associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree; and programs where associates can earn nearly 50 percent of the credits needed to earn a college degree just by working at Taco Bell.
- GraduateforMas.com: The Taco Bell Foundation connects teens with jobs through the careers page on GraduateforMas.com, which 10,000 teens accessed last year. Supported by a partnership with Get Schooled, the program has also inspired more than 355,000 students from across the country to make a commitment to stay in school and awarded $250,000 in scholarships to deserving teens this year alone.
For more information on #SeeMyPotential and the Taco Bell Foundation, visit TacoBellFoundation.Org. Campaign images, including an example #SeeMyPotential post and the National Fundraiser giving card, can be downloaded here.
About Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c) (3) public benefit corporation committed to inspiring and enabling America’s teens to stay on the path to graduation and reach their full potential through its programs, partnerships and direct financial assistance. Every year, the Foundation serves more than 1 million teens in more than 180 communities across the country and awards more than 300 grants and scholarships focused on education and career preparedness. Since 1992, the Foundation has awarded more than $75 million in support of more than 1,000 teen-serving organizations in the U.S. through customer, franchisee, employee and vendor-partner donations. For more information visit tacobellfoundation.org.
Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE: YUM), 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 Power Menu and lower calorie Fresco Menu. The company encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through its food and in ways such as its Feed the Beat® music program and nonprofit organization, the Taco Bell Foundation. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise organization have nearly 6,000 restaurants across the United States that proudly serve more than 36 million customers every week.
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