(Morristown, TN, August 22, 2006) - The Boys & Girls Clubs of Morristown are one step closer to better serving teenagers in the community due to a $10,000 teen program grant provided by Team Tacala Charities, the charitable foundation of Tacala, LLC, a franchisee of Taco Bell Corporation. The grant was presented August 19, 2006 at the 25th Annual Super Auction held at the Boys and Girls Club of Morristown TEEN Supreme Center.
"With the continued support of Team Tacala Charities, we will be able to continue to offer quality teen programming three nights a week to over 400 teens, " stated John Seals, Assistant Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Morristown. "These funds are a vital part of our programming and will have an immediate and direct impact on our teenaged members."
In addition to participating in the national Taco Bell program to collect money for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, called TEENSupreme, Tacala restaurants also conduct "Round Up" a Tacala fundraiser held three times per year specifically to raise funds for local clubs in markets where it operates restaurants. The grant awarded to the Morristown Club is one of 21 grants in Tacala's geography selected to receive funding from Team Tacala Charities this summer. Tacala Regional Manager, Heather Long was on hand to present the check on behalf of Team Tacala Charities.
"Everyone in our company has really taken supporting Boys & Girls Clubs (BG&C) to heart. And when you visit the clubs, and see the kids, it's easy to see why. We're very happy to be in Morristown today giving this organization these funds," said Ms. Long.
The Boys & Girls Club of Morristown has played an integral role in the community, providing services to over 400 teens annually. The clubs offer programs that emphasize character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation.
"We admire and appreciate what your clubs are doing for the teens in our communities, and we are honored to contribute to this effort," stated Rebekah Woods, Communications Specialist at Tacala, LLC. "We look forward to a warm and productive relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of Morristown."
About 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. In addition, Tacala has raised $1.1 million for the Taco Bell Foundation through a combination of canister collections and other donations.