The Taco Bell Foundation recognizes more than 770 young minds working to pursue higher education and nontraditional paths
Published 05-09-22
Submitted by Yum! Brands
IRVINE, Calif., May 9, 2022 /CSRwire/ - There’s a new class of Live Más Scholars! Today, the Taco Bell Foundation announced more than $8 million in scholarships to break down barriers to education for 772 passionate students looking to ignite change in their communities and across the country.
With the help of Taco Bell’s Chief Impact Officer, cultural icon Lil Nas X, the Taco Bell Foundation is excited to create a memorable experience for this next generation of leaders.
“I know firsthand what it’s like to be a young person with a dream to break convention and change an industry,” said Lil Nas X. “It’s an honor to support these Live Más Scholars and I am eager to see their next chapters unfold.”
To qualify for this year’s scholarship program, these students, aged 16-26, submitted a two-minute video describing their passion, a positive change they want to make in the world, and how their education will help them achieve that goal.
Selected from a pool of 8,000 applicants, this year’s scholarship recipients include nearly 200 fans of the brand, 150 Taco Bell® Restaurant team members, and 430 renewal winners (both fans and team members who applied to renew a Live Más Scholarship they received in the past). Scholarship awards range from $5,000-$25,000 per student. This year’s scholars will also have the opportunity to attend the Live Más Scholarship Summer of Creativity, an in-person conference in San Diego, Calif. bringing together past and present Live Más Scholars to learn, engage and network personally and professionally.
“We are so excited to welcome a new, ambitious class of scholars,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “These scholarships are about more than providing funds. It’s about creating opportunity, driving passion and fueling the inspiration and ambition of young people across the country.”
The Taco Bell Foundation is awarding $2.3 million to Taco Bell Restaurant team members and $5.75 million to other young people nationwide. To raise money for the Live Más Scholarship consumer fund, the Taco Bell Foundation partners with Taco Bell restaurants through the Round Up program. By asking Taco Bell customers to round up their order total to the nearest dollar, the Taco Bell Foundation has raised more than 60 million since 2019.
The Live Más Scholarship is geared toward students with bold ambitions who are community-focused and have their eye on the horizon. Check out the stories from two of the scholars who will be using these funds to reach new heights:
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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’sleaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $130 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness.
For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.
*The links contained in this press release are provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by The Taco Bell Foundation of any of the resources, services or opinions of the organizations or individuals, as applicable. The Taco Bell Foundation bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of these external sites or subsequent links. Please contact the specific external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 54,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories, operating the Company’s brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. The Company’s family of brands also includes The Habit Burger Grill, a fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. Yum! Brands was named to the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and was ranked on Newsweek’s list of 2021 America’s Most Responsible Companies. In 2022, Yum! Brands was named to 3BL Media’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens.
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