Life

Boys & Girls Club receives Taco Bell grant

By Bill Moss, Published: September 16, 2013

More than 100 local teenagers from the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County will benefit from a $10,300 grant awarded by the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens.

The grant supports real-world programs that help club teens stay in school, graduate and reach their full potential through postsecondary education and career preparation. For the past four years, 100 percent of high school seniors who belong to the local Boys & Girls Club have graduated from high school.
Through the grant, members will participate in interactive forums and enhance their skills in resume-writing, interview etiquette, job research, and on-site, hands-on job training. Qualifying teens will have a chance apply their newfound skills in the field through job-shadowing opportunities. The funding will also make several college tours possible for club members this year. Program participants will benefit from a new sense of preparedness, relevant, firsthand knowledge of the working world and exposure to different options for postsecondary education.
"The Taco Bell Foundation for Teen's generous support makes a meaningful impact on the lives of Club teens," said Josh Queen, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County Teen Director. "It's because of partnerships like this that we are able to offer the academic, career, and mentorship experiences that inspire our teen members to stay committed to earning their high school degree and move onto great things in life."
The Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County is one of more than 300 teen-serving organizations nationwide to receive a portion of $3 million granted by the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens this year.