Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley received a $1,560 grant provided by the Taco Bell Foundation™ to support a College Exploration Day on July 15. The funding was used to expose students to the possibilities of higher education, and to empower them to graduate high school and achieve their dreams.
Six Little Brothers and Little Sisters along with five Big Brothers and Big Sisters participated in the group event, which focused on exploring what the college experience is like at Lafayette College in Easton, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, and Cedar Crest College in Allentown. It also allowed the students to become familiar with important facets of the application process, including majors, transcripts, grants, and scholarships. Students visited libraries, residence halls, classrooms and labs, and dining halls. A Big Brother who previously worked in college admissions provided advice on how to approach the college selection decision. Site visits included breakfast and lunch as well as round trip transportation.
“We are thrilled to play a part in the Taco Bell Foundation’s investment in America’s youth,” said BBBSLV CEO Susan Bartels. “When you come across another organization committed to championing education and empowering this nation’s next generation of leaders, you know there’s a special energy there. This mission we’re sharing is one with an enormous upside for our young people, our communities and our country at large.”
BBBSLV is one of more than 350 youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the $4.5 million in grants being presented by Taco Bell Foundation’s philanthropic arm this year. The awarded grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s goal to empower young people to channel their passions and go onto achieve their dreams through secondary education.
“Young people have always been the heart and soul of our brand,” said Frank Tucker, Chief People Officer at Taco Bell and President of the Taco Bell Foundation. “Expanding our impact in this community is one of the best ways we can support the passions of young people and create opportunities that help them unlock and reach their potential.”
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps America’s young people follow their dreams and reach their full potential. Since 1992, the Foundation has helped more than 3 million youth across the country and has awarded more than $60 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. In 2017, more than $5 million dollars will be disbursed to 350 youth-serving organizations across the country. In 2015, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at empowering the nation’s next generation of dreamers, innovators and creators – those whose passions don’t fall into the conventional “academic” or “athletic” qualifying categories of traditional scholarship programs. In 2017, the Foundation will award more than 150 young people with $1.3 million in Live Más Scholarships. For more information visit LiveMásScholarship.com.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. For over 40 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has partnered with parents/guardians, schools, corporations, and others in the Lehigh Valley to pair children (Littles) qualified, trained volunteers (Bigs), and monitor these one-to-one relationships throughout their course. https://www.bbbslv.org/
