University of Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer Helps Kick of "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" Workshop at Campus Event
Knoxville, TN, August 9, 2006 - Taco Bell restaurants, owned and operated by Tacala, the largest Taco Bell franchise operator in the United States, teamed up with University of Tennessee Football Coach, Phillip Fulmer, to launch the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens program for six local Boys & Girls Clubs in Eastern Tennessee. The program is based on the best-selling book by author Sean Covey and applies the timeless principles of the 7 Habits to help teens develop problem solving skills that enable young adults to make smart decisions.
More than 100 Boys & Girls Club teens convened at the University of Tennessee campus on July 10 where they received an inspirational message from Coach Fulmer and were given an overview of all 7 Habits by Gary McGuey of Franklin Covey. The teens also received a tour of the college campus before finishing the day with a meal at a local Taco Bell restaurant.
“We had a terrific day at the University of Tennessee. Not only did the teens see a leading college campus, but they also heard from Coach Fulmer - who has a long history of motivating young people toward success,” said Don Ghareeb, Taco Bell franchisee and president of Tacala. “Taco Bell is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs to provide teens with positive experiences and programs like the 7 Habits that enable them to be successful in life.”
Following the successful kick-off of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens initiative, each of the six Tennessee Boys & Girls Clubs that participated will continue the program and introduce a new habit each week for the teens to work on throughout the summer. Participating Clubs include -- Boys and Girls Club of Bristol, Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, Boys and Girls Club of Kingsport, Boys and Girls of Johnson City/Washington County, Boys and Girls Club of Morristown and Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley.
“We found the 7 Habits program to be extremely beneficial toward our youth development strategy,” said Natasha Pender, Teen Director, Boys & Girls Club of Bristol (Tennessee). “I believe that without this program our teens would be lost citizens within our community.”
The 7 Habits curriculum tackles the challenging issues facing teens, including, relationships with family and friends, increased self-esteem, and prioritizing personal goals. The program institutes a combination of exercises, group participation, and interesting video clips to demonstrate the practices illustrated in Covey's book.
For more information related to the 7 Habits program in your local Boys & Girls Club, please visit www.bgca.org.
Team Tacala Charities
In concert with Taco Bell Corp.'s national support of Boys & Girls Clubs of America through the Taco Bell Foundation, the mission of Team Tacala Charities, the charitable foundation of Tacala, is to promote opportunities for teens in our communities, through the support of organizations that specialize in the leadership, career development, character, and health needs of teens. As a related goal, Team Tacala Charities also hopes to inspire volunteerism among Tacala employees by promoting worthwhile organizations in local markets and by providing outlets for participation and involvement.
The primary fundraising activity for Team Tacala Charities is a program called "Round Up" which is generally conducted three times per year. Round Up is a two week program where Service Champions in each Tacala restaurant ask customers to donate their change to support teen programs. Funds collected through Round Up are made available to Boys & Girls Clubs in Tacala markets through grants for teen programs and services, as well as other club requests including facility and equipment upgrades. Since beginning its fundraising efforts in 2002, Team Tacala Charities has distributed over $700,000 to local clubs.
Taco Bell Foundation
The Taco Bell Foundation is a public charity established in 1992 to improve the lives of young people. Through its partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA), the Foundation created a national program to foster educational, career and service opportunities for teens. The Foundation is the first BGCA partner to recognize the particular needs of America's teens. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.teensupreme.org.
Boys & Girls Club of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.