From left, Tahme’Sha Washington, director of Student Success; Theodore Batts, Tacala
Restaurant leader, Red Bank; Jesse Jones, Tacala Restaurant leader, Hixon Pike, Vic Rupe, Tacala Area coach; and Connie Dallas, East Lake unit manager
On behalf of the Taco Bell Foundation, representatives of Tacala Companies, Chattanooga’s local Taco Bell franchisee, presented the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga with a $75,000 Community Grant. Funds were raised at Tacala restaurants in Chattanooga between January and December 2022 by offering customers the opportunity to round-up their purchase. The proceeds of the $75,000 grant will fund the Club’s Chattanooga Scholars Program which focuses on teen programming.
"Taco Bell Foundation’s support will enable over 50-Chattanooga high school students to have the skills and tools necessary to succeed in today’s employment market “ states Jim Morgan, Club CEO.
The Chattanooga Scholars Program provides high school students and recent graduates workforce development skills, workforce entry capabilities, internship opportunities, and a deeper understanding of local businesses and available career paths. Most of the scholars reside in under-served neighborhoods of Chattanooga, and the program helps each scholar break the cycle of poverty and start a successful career, said officials.
Over the past five years, the Taco Bell Foundation has distributed over $185,000 in Community Grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chattanooga. Thanks to Taco Bell teams and customers in Chattanooga, this is the largest grant allocation to date.