The Boys & Girls Clubs of Red River Valley recently received a $21,500 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation to support programs that benefi t the youth. The funds will go toward their Smart Moves program and other programs that educate and inspire the youth.
Kam Sallee, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Red River Valley, said this will enhance their Workforce Readiness program along with other programs the club has in the summer.
This is the second year in a row for the B & G Club to receive the grant.
“This is for our Durant and Ardmore locations and so it’s really to help our teenagers and give them job placement,” Sallee said. “We work with Southern Workforce Readiness, with Taco Bell and other agencies, and a lot banks when we work with our Money Matters program, teaching them what finances are and how to invest. This will help us assist our older age groups in that endeavor.”
This summer, the Boys & Girls Club is focusing on its summer “Brain Game” to help with reading loss and also mathematics. Sallee said the children will be encouraged to read more.
“Really, that’s our focus and how we utilize that is through our Money Matters program, helping them with just basic mathematical skills and also what money is, and then we also go into our AR reading program,” Sallee said. “That’s a new thing that we’re starting in hopes to increase their reading levels. We’ve seen a lot of lower reading levels across southeast Oklahoma, so we really wanted to pinpoint that this summer and see how we can raise that.”
The goal of the program is to provide the children with things that will help them in the upcoming school year, according to Sallee.
“We don’t want any loss happening from after school to summer,” Sallee said. “Our goal is to really help them and give them what they need to succeed.”
The Durant location serves about 160-170 youth per day.
“Throughout the year, we serve a little over 2,600 just at this location,” Sallee said. “Across all 14 of our locations, we serve just under 7,000 youth per year.”
Another program the club is planning is an E-Sports league and Sallee said they will be working with Annex Games to increase participation in the program.
“I know Southeastern just started their E-sports program and so we’re really trying to increase that partnership because there are now scholarships for that and a lot of our kids are really interested in the gaming,” Sallee said. “So, in order to have the technology, we need to partner with people like Annex Games so our kids have access to the the higher technological advances. We’re excited about that. Our kids are really excited about it and so we’re looking forward to seeing what happens with that.”
The Taco Bell Foundation, in partnership with the Taco Bell franchisee, K-MAC Enterprises, says they are thrilled to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Red River Valley Oklahoma as they strive to meet the needs of young people.
“It is a privilege to partner with the Taco Bell Foundation in educating and inspiring young people in Durant and surrounding communities,” Tina Reagan, CEO of K-MAC Enterprises, said in a news release. “Thanks to the generosity of our Taco Bell customers and our team members who inspire our customers to donate their spare change to our Round Up program, Taco Bell is able to support youthfocused organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Red River Valley Oklahoma in our Taco Bell restaurant communities.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Red River Valley Oklahoma is one of more than 450+ youthserving organizations that received a portion of the nearly $23 million in community grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year.
According to the Taco Bell Foundation, these grants are an example of their mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambition.
