Twelve years is a long time to show up for someone. It's also exactly how long the young people in Friends of the Children – Colorado can count on a professional mentor by their side. That commitment is getting a boost from the Taco Bell Foundation, which has awarded Friends – Colorado a $100,000 Community Grant.

The Taco Bell team recently joined us at our clubhouse to celebrate this incredible partnership, which will fuel our program and bolster our long-term commitment to youth.

At Friends - Colorado, each youth in our program is paired with a paid, professional mentor who stays for 12+ years, no matter what. Over that time, youth set and reach goals of their own, and the results are strong: 90% earn a diploma or GED, 92% enroll in college, enter the workforce, or serve our country, 96% avoid the juvenile justice system, and 95% wait to parent until after their teen years. Many of these young people are also navigating significant adversity, and that steady presence helps them build life skills and change the trajectory of their futures for themselves and their families.

This generous grant from the Foundation is part of its record $32 million Community Grants investment, supporting 700 youth-serving nonprofits nationwide, a 40% increase over last year. Local Taco Bell franchisees nominate the organizations, and customers' round-up donations helped fuel the program with more than $51 million in 2025.

We are so grateful to the Taco Bell Foundation, our Board Member Joe Schmidt of KBP Brands who helped facilitate the connection, and to local Taco Bell customers who contributed by rounding up their order. Thank you!