Each year, the Taco Bell Foundation awards millions of dollars to hundreds of local communities across the U.S. This was the biggest giving year yet, with $28 million (a $5 million increase over last year) going to organizations that serve at-risk youth. The Foundation focuses on investing money in the form of community grants, gifting them to groups that work on expanding youth access to academic mentorship, career exploration, financial literacy and more.
ROUNDING UP REALLY WORKS
Here at Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), we prioritize raising money for these grants as a part of our day-to-day business strategy. All the funds raised go right back into the communities our Taco Bell restaurants serve. We’re proud to share that DRG was responsible for contributing over $1 million to the $28 million Taco Bell Foundation fundraising total.
“These grants are the … way we give back to our communities and really help young people thrive and get ready for a career.” – Sierra Burk, Communications Manager
Incredibly, a large portion of the funds are generated from Taco Bell guests choosing to “round up” their order total to the next dollar — meaning that everyday generosity really does have the power to enact lasting change.
$40,000 GOES TO THE A.C. GREEN FOUNDATION
The DRG Team proudly presented a $40,000 check to the A.C. Green Youth Foundation at Century High School in Santa Ana, CA. This donation was the result of a successful grant application that DRG sponsored through the Taco Bell Foundation. The funds will help expand the A.C. Green Foundation’s reach — supporting youth empowerment through sports camps, life skills training and leadership development in under-resourced communities.
Bob Schalow, Vice President of Southern California, was introduced to A.C. Green, a former Los Angeles Laker and member of the Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame, through a mutual friend. After learning about the foundation’s work and personally supporting its camps with food sponsorships, Bob saw the impact firsthand. Inspired by the foundation’s commitment to youth in under-resourced areas, DRG stepped in to help secure additional funding.
We’re honored to support the A.C. Green Youth Foundation’s mission.
THE ROAD AHEAD
We spoke with our Communications Manager Sierra Burk, as well as our Chief Operating Officer, Todd Kelly, about DRG’s giveback initiatives and charitable plans for the future. They both emphasized our recent work with Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, where DRG has a “practice” Taco Bell storefront — complete with a counter and dining room that looks just like an operating Taco Bell restaurant. This unique initiative teaches youth how to effectively manage and run a business — boosting their confidence and skills before they take on the real thing.
“We don’t do it to try to get recognition, we do it to try and make a difference.”
– Todd Kelly, Chief Operating Officer
Additionally, Burk shared plans to get Taco Bell team members even more involved.
“We’re working on having more of our General Managers involved with our community partners,” Sierra says. “They can see exactly where [the money is] going, visit these centers and even have a say in where the money goes next year.”
We want to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this generosity possible!
