Customers can donate $1 at participating locations

Irvine, Calif. (March 18, 2021) From March 18 - March 31, customers at participating Taco Bell locations will be given the option to donate $1 at check-out in-store or through the drive-thru to support the brand’s Helping Hand fundraiser via donations to several charitable organizations.

Funds raised at company restaurants will go towards YouthBuild USA, a global nonprofit championing opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — as they earn the knowledge, training, and opportunities that lead to long-term professional and personal success. Taco Bell franchisees individually selected over 30 charitable organizations for their local restaurants to support, including national partners of the Taco Bell Foundation like Boys & Girls Club of America and Junior Achievement. This two-week national fundraiser will temporarily replace donations raised through the Round Up program, which helps fund programs such as the Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship.

“We encourage Taco Bell fans to help us support these incredible organizations during our two-week fundraiser,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “We are especially excited to partner with YouthBuild USA, whose efforts to support young people in pursuing their education and professional development perfectly align with the Taco Bell Foundation’s work providing scholarships and mentorship opportunities to students.”

In YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth pursue their education, prepare for future careers and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. To date, YouthBuild programs across the US and around the world have partnered with over 180,000 young people to dedicate over 50 million hours of service benefitting urban, rural, and tribal communities.

YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for a global network of 290 local YouthBuild programs in 18 countries, with 233 programs in 46 U.S. states and territories and 57 programs in 17 other countries.

”Our young people are strong and resilient, and we’re very grateful to Taco Bell for standing with them,” said YouthBuild USA’s President and CEO John Valverde. “This partnership provides tremendous support for us as we help YouthBuild programs continue to innovate in their work and stay ready to meet opportunity youth with knowledge, tools, opportunities, and love.”

About YouthBuild
With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. At nearly 300 YouthBuild programs across the United States and around the world, students reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become leaders in their communities. To date, YouthBuild has partnered with more than 180,000 young people to dedicate over 50 million hours of service benefitting urban, rural, and tribal communities. YouthBuild strives to create a world where all young people are seen for their potential, and power to transform themselves and their communities. YouthBuild USA – the support center for the YouthBuild movement – strengthens YouthBuild programs through technical assistance, leadership development, innovative program enhancements, and advocacy. YouthBuild programs located outside of the United States are supported by YouthBuild USA’s international division, YouthBuild International.

For more information about the YouthBuild movement, YouthBuild USA, and YouthBuild International, visit www.YouthBuild.org.

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About Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps break down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America’s young leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 4 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $95 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness.

For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.