Taco Bell Foundation for Teens

Teen Hero Awards Honor Youth Volunteers
with $225,000 in Charitable Grants

National Fundraiser Raises Nearly $1 Million
to Benefit Teen Programs
Across the Country

IRVINE, Calif., May 20 2008 -- Tara Suri, 17, of Scarsdale, New York, was selected as the grand prize winner in the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens "Teen Hero Awards." In conjunction with April's National Volunteer Month, entrants were asked to compose an original essay of up to 250 words explaining how they or the teens they were nominating are making a difference in their community through volunteerism. Suri's volunteerism started at the age of 13 when she founded Helping Orphans Pursue Education or HOPE. Through the organization, she has helped provide children at orphanages in India and Sudan with access to shelter, education, healthcare, and other daily necessities. She also launched http://www.turnyourworldaround.org/, a website that connects youth in the United States to grassroots organizations around the world.

ThinkMTV, MTV's Emmy-winning initiative to educate and empower young people to bring about positive social change in their communities and beyond, partnered with the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens to launch the Teen Hero Awards by creating an online campaign for award nominations at Think.MTV.com. From April 2 - April 25, the social networking site invited individuals logged onto http://www.think.mtv.com/ or http://www.teenheroawards.com/ to nominate a Teen Hero.

The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens created the Teen Hero Awards to recognize and inspire teens to reach their full potential -- to graduate from high school and become productive, educated and caring adults. "We know that teens who volunteer are more likely to do better in school, and in life," said Bob Fulmer, executive director, Taco Bell Foundation for Teens. "Teens are a big part of who we are at Taco Bell and it's our goal to raise awareness for the amazing contributions they make to society -- which are often overlooked. Through this program we can shine the spotlight on those who are making a difference, encourage more teens to do the same, and continue to provide grants to fund community, career and education programs specifically designed for teens."

"Through a constant dialogue with our audience, we know that today's generation of young people are invested in their future and are taking action to improve their own lives and their communities," said Ian Rowe, senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Public Affairs for MTV. "We are excited and committed to empowering young people with innovative ways to affect positive social change and rewarding those who are making a difference. The Teen Hero Awards were a perfect example of one of those opportunities."

In tandem with the Teen Hero Awards, participating Taco Bell(R) restaurants across the country teamed up to raise money for teen volunteer programs at local Boys & Girls Clubs. Through generous customer donations, Taco Bell(R) restaurants will be granting nearly $1 million to benefit teen programs at Boys & Girls Clubs and other eligible charities.

The Taco Bell Foundation for Teens will recognize the grand prize winner, Suri, by giving a grant of $15,000 to an eligible charity of her choice. The following four finalists will each be recognized with grants of $10,000 for their designated charities: Tory Myles, 17, of Washington D.C., Al'Shondra Harris, 18, of Columbus, GA., Josh Allredge, 17, of Birmingham, AL., and Traver Dodorye, 19, of Miami, FL. Additionally, 34 runner-ups will be recognized with a $5,000 grant for each of their eligible charities of choice. A complete list of winners is accessible online at http://www.teenheroawards.com/ or available upon request.

Essay entries were judged based on three criteria: Impact and Difference, Inspiration and Leadership. In an excerpt from her essay, Suri wrote: "Shocked by the poverty and sexism I encountered in India when I was 13, I founded HOPE (Helping Orphans Pursue Education) to provide all children with the opportunity to reach their potential. HOPE has improved access to basic necessities, especially education, in orphanages in India and Sudan where most of the children were abandoned as infants. In India, HOPE financed the construction of a dormitory, drastically improving the children's lives; previously, the children had a flimsy shelter that would often be destroyed by storms."

"I want to see every young person turning the world around, and I am dedicated to making this happen. We have the power to do anything and I envision a global culture of youth collaborating to make a difference," said Suri. "Volunteering provides you with an indescribably powerful sense of fulfillment - especially when you see the impact you are making."