Think of all the Crunchwrap Supremes, Beefy 5-Layer Burritos, and Baja Blasts you’ve ordered in the drive-thru lane of Taco Bell in the past decade.
For those of us who were in high school and college during that time, that number may be immeasurable.
But for the people working on the other side of the speaker, those orders — and their subsequent “round-up” donations — have truly changed their lives.
This May marks the 10-year anniversary of the Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más scholarship program, and the chain is celebrating a grand total of $64 million in scholarship funding over the past decade.
To honor the milestone, the foundation is giving its largest scholarship distribution yet: $14 million to applicants across the country. Of that number, $4.5 million will go directly to Taco Bell employees.
Scholarship award amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000 per recipient, with the possibility to renew up to four times. This could potentially cover a student’s entire college tuition.
That’s what happened for Crimsyn, a former Taco Bell employee who recently shared her story in a now-viral TikTok that’s been viewed over 5 million times.
“I’m graduating college in less than a month, completely debt-free because of Taco Bell,” she starts her video, laughing.
She said she worked at the restaurant for about six months as a job to earn a little money in high school. Her manager suggested she apply to the scholarship program.
Off the bat, she received a $10,000 scholarship. After renewing for the allotted four times, Crimsyn said she received a total of $40,000 from Taco Bell.
According to the Taco Bell Foundation, the scholarship isn’t based on GPAs or test scores, making it more accessible for people to apply.
“Designed for creative thinkers, cultural rebels and bold dreamers, the program invites applicants to share their story through a two-minute video, spotlighting how they plan to make an impact,” a press release states.
“In return, if selected, they join a supportive, purpose-driven community and gain access to mentorship, career workshops, internships, and networking opportunities, making the scholarship more than just financial support, but a launchpad for what's next.”
To date, $64 million total has been awarded to over 3,000 recipients, about 1,000 of whom have been employees at Taco Bell.
Scholarships for employees are funded by contributions from Taco Bell Corp. and its franchises, but scholarships for any young Taco Bell “fan,” as the organization calls them, come from a “round-up” program at checkout.
This program simply encourages customers to round up their total to the nearest dollar, with the average donation being just 44 cents.
“You better believe every time I’m in that Taco Bell drive-thru, I’m like, ‘Yes, I would like to round up my change,’” because that 50 cents, that 75 cents, every few weeks, gave me $40,000,” Crimsyn concluded.
“And I can only imagine what it’s given other people.”
When the scholarship program started, its annual funding was about $1 million, with around 6,000 applicants. This year, it will have $14 million to distribute to more than 15,000 applicants.
Employee applications have also increased by nearly 450%. The inaugural class included 270 scholarships, and this year’s will include 1,000.
“What’s inspired me most at the Taco Bell Foundation is the incredible ambition of our scholars, especially our Team Member recipients,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation.
“They are true go-getters — thriving at work, pushing themselves in school, and still finding time to chase their passions with unmatched drive and heart.”
One of this year’s recipients, Uriel M. exemplifies what Cardin admires in the scholarship community.
After a tornado changed his family’s life, in which Uriel’s brother protected him in the disaster and subsequently lost his leg, he found his purpose.
Uriel dreams of creating more accessible prosthetics for people in low-income communities.
“Since my family was poor, we couldn’t afford him a good prosthetic,” Uriel said in his application video. “In college, I hope to study prosthetics using durable but inexpensive materials.”
A $25,000 scholarship from Taco Bell will help him study biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California.
Even the first class of Live Más scholars can feel the ripple effects of their scholarships to this day.
“Today, I am a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Hawaii, helping bring justice to victims of crimes and working to better my community,” said Diamonte Jonas, one of the first-ever recipients.
“The Live Más Scholarship propelled my educational pursuit and reminded me that great achievements take bold risks.”
Header image courtesy of Taco Bell
