Winterville, NC June 5, 2024

Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain received a $31,500 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation to support more than 2,700 youth in eastern North Carolina. The funds will go toward academic success programming and other efforts to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders!

“We are so appreciative of our partnership with the Taco Bell Foundation. These funds will enable us to continue serving and educating young people across eastern North Carolina,” said Mark Holtzman, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain. “Together, we are working to break down barriers to education for future leaders.” 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain is one of more than 450+ youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the nearly $23 million in Community Grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year. The grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambitions.

“Our Community Grants program is unique, because the funds are dispersed back to organizations in the local community
they are raised in,” said Neil Borkan, Chairman of the Taco Bell Foundation. “We are so thankful for the generosity of our partners, customers and Taco Bell team members that make it possible for us to continue serving youth across the
country.”

About the Taco Bell Foundation 

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity that educates and inspires the next generation of leaders through programming like the Live Más Scholarship and the Local Grants Program. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $150 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. In 2015, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at fueling the bold ambitions of America’s future leaders. In May 2023, the Taco Bell Foundation awarded $10 million in Live Más Scholarships to over 900 students. For more information, visit TacoBellFoundation.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain

The organization began in 1969 as a Boys Club with a very modest operation at the Pitt County Fairgrounds. Since that time, the organization has experienced significant growth in membership, programs, and facilities. In 1992 the Jack Minges Unit was built to accommodate the growing need and to include girls in membership. Additional units have been established in Ayden, Farmville, West Greenville, and north of the Tar River. BGCCP assumed responsibility for the Club in Lenoir County in 2010, two Clubs in Beaufort County in 2013, opened a new Club in November 2013 in Greene County, and now has opened two Clubs in Martin County. In 2017, BGCCP merged with the Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina to add 6 Clubs in Craven and Carteret Counties. Today, more than 3,000 young people are taking advantage of the programs, activities and services provided by our 17 Clubs in 7 contingent counties: Pitt, Lenoir, Beaufort, Greene, Martin, Carteret, and Craven Counties. 

Winterville, NC June 2, 2023

Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain received a $25,000 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation to support more than 2,700 youth in eastern North Carolina. The funds will go toward academic success programming and other efforts to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. 

“It’s a privilege to partner with the Taco Bell Foundation in educating and inspiring young people nationwide,” said Mark Holtzman, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain. “Together, we are working to break down barriers to education for future leaders.” 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain is one of more than 450+ youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the $15 million in Community Grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year. The grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambitions.

“We are proud that the work we do through our Community Grants program connects young people with the resources and opportunities they need to learn and drive change,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. 

About the Taco Bell Foundation 

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity that educates and inspires the next generation of leaders through programming like the Live Más Scholarship and the Local Grants Program. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $150 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. In 2015, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at fueling the bold ambitions of America’s future leaders. In May 2023, the Taco Bell Foundation awarded $10 million in Live Más Scholarships to over 900 students. For more information, visit TacoBellFoundation.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain

The organization began in 1969 as a Boys Club with a very modest operation at the Pitt County Fairgrounds. Since that time, the organization has experienced significant growth in membership, programs, and facilities. In 1992 the Jack Minges Unit was built to accommodate the growing need and to include girls in membership. Additional units have been established in Ayden, Farmville, West Greenville, and north of the Tar River. BGCCP assumed responsibility for the Club in Lenoir County in 2010, two Clubs in Beaufort County in 2013, opened a new Club in November 2013 in Greene County, and now has opened two Clubs in Martin County. In 2017, BGCCP merged with the Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina to add 6 Clubs in Craven and Carteret Counties. Today, more than 3,000 young people are taking advantage of the programs, activities and services provided by our 17 Clubs in 7 contingent counties: Pitt, Lenoir, Beaufort, Greene, Martin, Carteret, and Craven Counties. 

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 1, 2022) –Voting is now open in UScellular’s Eighth Annual Black History Month Art Contest with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain Clubs in Greenville, Morehead City, New Bern and Washington. Voting is available online, and community members in these cities can go here to vote for their favorite piece of original art.

This year, UScellular introduced an exciting new element to the contest. For the first time, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain members were encouraged to create their original pieces of artwork in recognition of influential Black STEM icons, including historical figures, world leaders, scientists and educators. Ten finalists were chosen by representatives from the Boys & Girls Club based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme and overall impression.

Voting will remain open until February 28, and anyone 18 or older can vote for their favorite. The finalists’ artwork is also digitally displayed at UScellular locations across eastern North Carolina.

The top three vote-getters for each Club will be announced in March and prizes include gift cards in the following amounts:

· $250 for 1st Place

· $150 for 2nd Place

· $100 for 3rd Place

“We are thrilled to work with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain again on this contest to help honor Black STEM icons and showcase youth in our community,” said Jeremy Taylor, director of sales for UScellular in eastern North Carolina. “This year’s art highlights the artistic talent among the Club members, while giving them a chance to learn more about the impact Black people have made in STEM. We encourage the eastern North Carolina community to check out the art and vote online.”

“Each year it’s always good to see the members get excited and put their best foot forward to create artwork that highlights the importance of Black History. This year the members were challenged with acknowledging Black Historical figures that aren’t exactly the “Go To” for Black History Month and it kickstarted a lot of interest among our members. They are stepping outside the box of constantly seeing Black people in politics fighting for equal rights and really seeing what it means for Black people to shine and be a pioneer in one role or another,” said Anna Hunter, unit director for Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plan Jack Minges Unit.

The public can vote for their favorite artwork by going to newsroom.uscellular.com or clicking here.

UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in STEM education and is committed to connecting more than 200,000 of tomorrow’s innovators each year with the resources they need today to help shape future opportunities. For more information about UScellular’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://newsroom.uscellular.com/community/.

No Purchase Necessary. Entrants who are minors must have parental consent to participate in the Contest. Official Contest Rules, including full entry details and Finalist and Winner selection criteria/voting are available by email request to USCDLMediaRelations@uscellular.com.

Winterville, NC – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain received a grant from Duke Energy on June 19 to help support the summer program, Summer Brain Gain. The $20,000 check was hand delivered to the Club kids by Duke Energy Government & Community Relations Manager, Millie Chalk. “Duke Energy is focused on trying to build and support our communities in any number of ways, whether it is through education, work-force development or environmental, trying to find all those different niches that can make a difference in the community. Boys & Girls Clubs is the perfect niche for us because those are our future leaders and future employees. We are hoping to build a partnership that not only strengthens Boys & Girls Clubs but also strengthens our organization and communities as well.”

This grant will aid with Club programs during the summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain implements a program called Summer Brain Gain. Summer Brain Gain is comprised of one-week modules with fun, themed activities for elementary school, middle school and high school students that are aligned with common core state standards. Each module takes a project-based learning approach: youth engage in a process of learning through discovery, creative expression, group work and create a final project or production. As a result, kids develop higher-order thinking skills while staying on track for the coming school year. President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain, Kimberly Boyd, “Summer Brain Gain effectively prevents summer learning loss, ensuring kids return to school ready to learn, and they have a great time too!” The check presentation took place at the Jack Minges Unit in Winterville, NC.

Winterville, NC – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain is proud to announce that Board Member, Steve Stevenson, III received the “Jeremiah Milbank National Gold Medallion Award” at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 2019 National Conference. This award is granted to those professionals who continue to support and dedicate their time to our local youth. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain President & CEO, Kimberly Boyd, stated” “Steve’s tireless dedication to the well-being of youth is unparralled and we are so grateful for his efforts every day. We are so pleased to be able to honor him at this level.”

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. There are 17 Clubs throughout Pitt, Beaufort, Lenoir, Martin, Greene, Carteret, and Craven Counties serving approximately 1,400 members daily and over 3,100 annually. Club programs focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character and citizenship with an over-arching goal of building strong children and communities. For more information, visit the Clubs online at www.bgccp.com or call (252) 355-2345.