Taco Bell Foundation gives $100,000 to help youth explore future health care careers

9/1/2025

The Banner Health Foundation was recently awarded a 2025 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. The grant will support Banner Health’s career development programs for middle school and high school students, promoting health care careers and preparing future talent for high-demand roles like nurses, medical assistants, and device technicians in Arizona.

Through this grant, Banner Health will expose 7,500 high school students to career opportunities in health care, engage 200 students in full program immersion with hands-on technical training and skill-building, and improve recruitment and participation rates among Black and Latino youth through direct outreach and mentoring. This marks the third year that Banner Health Foundation has been selected as a grant recipient.

“Like the Taco Bell Foundation, Banner Health values programming that breaks down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. We are so honored to have Taco Bell Foundation’s support to help make a positive impact on Arizona youth, providing students with vital resources to realize their future career potential,” said Andy Petersen, president and chief executive officer of the Banner Health Foundation.

“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”

The Taco Bell Foundation awarded a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants this year to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide. The Community Grants program uplifts youth in the communities that matter most to Taco Bell – those of its fans and team members. True to the brand’s spirit, the Taco Bell Foundation supports nonprofits that think differently and take bold approaches to creating new opportunities for young people.

Banner was nominated for the grant by local Taco Bell franchisee Mark Peterson, whose continued commitment to uplifting youth has helped expand access to education, mentorship and career readiness programs across the community.