Aug 04, 2025
Photo courtesy, Orlando Trevino, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County
Boys & Girls Club Receives $70,000 Community Grant from Taco Bell Foundation to Support Local Youth
Bakersfield, CA (August 4, 2025)— The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County is proud to announce it has been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County’s Workforce Readiness/Summer Jobs Program provides local high school teens with a pathway to economic mobility and helps to close the youth unemployment gap. The funding from the Taco Bell Foundation will prepare teens and young adults for the workforce by providing them with relevant job skills, professional development opportunities, and access to employment resources.
“It’s a privilege to partner with the Taco Bell Foundation in educating and inspiring young people,” said Zane Smith, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. “Together, we are introducing young people to the world of work and providing the tools they need to prepare for a future career.”
The Taco Bell Foundation awarded a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants this year to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide. The Community Grants program uplifts youth in the communities that matter most to Taco Bell – those of its fans and Team Members. True to the brand’s spirit, the Taco Bell Foundation supports nonprofits that think differently and take bold approaches to creating new opportunities for young people.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County was nominated for the grant by Taco Bell Corporation, whose continued commitment to uplifting youth has helped expand access to education, mentorship, and career readiness programs across the community.
“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”
To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County, please visit www.bgckc.org. To learn more about the Taco Bell Foundation and the Community Grants program, please visit https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/who-we-support/.
About BGCKC: For over 59 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County have delivered quality, life-changing services to youth. These youth benefit from trained, caring Youth Development Professional staff and volunteers who help young people take control of their lives, envision productive futures, and reach their goals. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County have three traditional and 70 school-based Club sites in Arvin, Bakersfield, Frazier Park, Gorman, Lamont, Kernville, McFarland, Lake Isabella, Lebec, Wasco, and Tehachapi. The Nutrition Program serves over 2,200 meals daily to children in need through several community and Club sites. Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. www.bgckc.org
About Taco Bell Foundation: Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that empowers the next generation to pursue their passions by breaking down barriers to education and providing resources to help young people chase their boldest ambitions. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached nearly 9 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $203 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.
