In preparation of furthering their education and shaping their futures, Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club teens will participate in a three day New York City college tour excursion evaluating potential post high school academic and career development opportunities. This trip, taking place in February of 2014, is made possible by a generous $4,000 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation.
The Taco Bell Foundation grant will benefit and enable 10 Club members between the ages of 15 and 18, accompanied by Antoinette Edmonston, GCBGC Teen Director, to stay in New York City while visiting the numerous college campuses. Campus sites under consideration include Columbia, New York University, Fordham, Pace, Hunter, the New School, Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design and other area universities and vocational schools.
Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The fund supports programming intended to enable and inspire teens to graduate high school and reach their full potential like the Club’s Career Launch - College Prep Program, designed to encourage teen members to assess their skills and interests, explore career opportunities and prepare for college through SAT prep, college application assistance, financial aid workshops, and college tours. Actor, producer, model and former rapper Mark Wahlberg, who recently partnered his Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation with Taco Bell for Teens, said ‘leaving school prematurely was his biggest regret in life.’ "I was lucky, but a lot of my friends who did the same ended up incarcerated or dead." The College Prep Program is just one successful example of the Club’s approach and efforts in keeping members in school, focused on education, career and knowing that a positive and productive future is within their reach.
Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“These campus tours mean so much to our members, many of whom would not be able to make these trips without the Club and this grant, let alone even think about how to approach the whole college application and admissions process. I’m so grateful that we are able to help our members with this undertaking, which can be extremely daunting and overwhelming,” said Antoinette Edmonston.
“The Taco Bell Foundation for Teen’s generous support makes a meaningful impact on the lives of our teen members,” said Melissa Rhodes, GCBGC Executive 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.”
“Today’s teens are tomorrow’s leaders, and they need the support of every community, business and elected official in order to succeed,” said Regina Borda, managing director of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens. “We are proud to support Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club and other like-minded community organizations that empower teens to live más and graduate from high school.”
Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club 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. Throughout its 20-year history, the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens has awarded more than $42 million in grants and scholarships through the ongoing support of its customers, employees, vendor partners and franchisees.
The Foundation also offers core programs, including Graduate for Más™, that motivate teens to stay in school and provide job training to help them identify career opportunities and interests.
To learn more about the college tours, contact Antoinette Edmonston at aedmonston@glencovebgc.org or call 516-671-8030 ext 107. To find out more about supporting the Club’s teen programs contact Melissa Rhodes at mrhodes@glencovebgc.org.
About Taco Bell Foundation for Teens
The Taco Bell Foundation Inc., also known as Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, is committed to inspiring and enabling America’s teens to achieve más through its programs, partnerships, and direct financial assistance. Every year, the Foundation serves more than 100,000 teens in more than 180 communities across the country and awards more than 300 grants and scholarships annually focused on education and career preparedness. Since 1992, we’ve awarded more than $42 million to support more than 1,000 teen-serving organizations in the U.S. with the help of ongoing customer, franchisee, employee and vendor partner donations. For more information visit tacobellforteens.org, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TacoBellforTeens.
