Latest news with #LiveMás
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
A DECADE OF IMPACT: TACO BELL FOUNDATION'S LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATES 10 YEARS BY AWARDING $14 MILLION TO FANS AND TEAM MEMBERS
The Live Más Scholarship continues to champion the next generation with record-breaking financial support for passion-driven students. IRVINE, Calif., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Taco Bell Foundation's Live Más Scholarship program is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its largest scholarship distribution yet: $14 million awarded to passionate young people across the country. Of that total, a record-breaking $4.5 million is going directly to Taco Bell Team Members—underscoring the Taco Bell Foundation's commitment to the people who bring the brand to life every day. Scholarship award amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000 per recipient, with the possibility to renew up to four times. '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. All of our scholars truly know what it means to Live Más.' BIG NUMBERS. BIGGER DREAMS. To date, the Taco Bell Foundation has awarded more than $64 million in Live Más Scholarships to over 3,000 recipients, including more than 1,000 Taco Bell Team Members, with many recipients having received renewals. Thanks to fan-powered donations through the Round Up program at checkout, the impact keeps growing. Just 44 cents—the average donation—goes a long way: scholarships for Taco Bell fans are funded entirely through Round Up, while Team Member scholarships are made possible by contributions from Taco Bell Corp. and Taco Bell franchisees. The scholarship has come far since its first year: annual funding has increased from $1 million to $14 million; applications have soared from 6,000 to over 15,000 submissions this application period, and the number of Team Member applications has increased by nearly 450%. The inaugural class included 270 scholarships, a sharp contrast to the 1,000 scholarships this year. 'The scholarship wasn't just a one-time opportunity—it became a part of my life's mission, a constant reminder that I'm part of something bigger than myself,' said Ricarda Urso, a member of the inaugural Live Más Scholarship class. 'The Foundation's impact doesn't stop with the scholarship—it's a lasting movement, one that motivates me to keep pushing forward and to pay it forward in whatever way I can.' A DECADE OF IMPACT, A FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE In this application cycle, passions spanned every field, from food science and business to emergency medicine and engineering. Check out how two inspiring 2025 Live Más Scholars are making an impact: THE LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP DIFFERENCE From surprise celebrations at Taco Bell restaurants to a Sacramento Kings game and even Davante Adams' football camp, the Taco Bell Foundation has made this scholarship season unforgettable. For the first time, it hosted a reveal inside the iconic Taco Bell Test Kitchen, bringing passion for food and innovation to life in a whole new way. Four students passionate about food innovation and culinary arts arrived ready to take on a menu development challenge. What they didn't expect was the unforgettable twist that came after the competition—a surprise scholarship celebration right inside the Test Kitchen. Taco Bell Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery and Global Chief Food Innovation Officer Liz Matthews were in on the surprise, making the moment even more memorable. The Live Más Scholarship isn't based on GPAs or test scores—it's built around passion. 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. 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. About Taco Bell Foundation Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps break down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America's young leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 9 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $189 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. This impact is made possible through a range of programs, including Community Grants, which support more than 450 nonprofit organizations nationwide and the passion-based Live Más Scholarship. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit Delani Myers – Edelman [email protected] Kathryn Kelly – Taco Bell Corp. [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taco Bell's New Menu Items Include Baja Blast Midnight Flavor, Queso Shells, and Birthday Cake Churros
If there's one thing that unifies all mankind, it's the eternal quest to get even more cheese into food. At least Taco Bell seems to think so. The fast food chain recently unveiled its new slate of menu items for 2025, and one of the most intriguing options coming to restaurants is the Quesocrisp Taco. It's a shell made entirely out of crispy cheese. And after you're done washing down yours with the new MTN DEW Baja Blast Midnight Flavor, you can end your meal with a Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churro. Earlier this month during its latest Live Más event, Taco Bell gave customers a look at 30 new foodstuffs it's working on. While there was a whole lot of revelations, including new collaborations and merchandise for 2025, the most important was the announcement of options coming to Taco Bell locations everywhere. Those include new Caliente Cantina Chicken options, the return of Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos and Double Decker Taco via the Decades Menu, Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupa, the return of Crispy Chicken Nuggets, Mike's Hot Honey Diablo Sauce, a new Flamin' Hot Burrito, Steak and Queso Crunchwrap Sliders, and Rolled Poblano Quesadilla. Yup. All of them. Give us all of them. But the three new items coming in 2025 that really caught our eye/stomach provide an entire meal. They include: Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churros: '…warm and crispy churros filled with Milk Bar's iconic birthday cake frosting and topped with festive sprinkles and sugar' MOUNTAIN DEW BAJA MIDNIGHT: 'a sweet and refreshing blast of passionfruit flavor combined with the familiar tropical lime flavor of Baja Blast' Quesocrisp Taco: 'an all-new taco with a shell made out of crispy cheese' Yuuuup. That's a whole delicious night right there. Taco Bell also provided a look at foods that could one day join the 2025. The live experience started with the latest innovations the chain's Test Kitchen has developed. While not all of these 'dream' items will make it to customers, we'd eat literally all of them. These experimental ideas include: Weak Knees Fire: 'combines the iconic Fire sauce with Bushwick Kitchen's Weak Knees Gochujang Sriracha' Zab's Hot Ranch: 'takes the flavors that Zab's [Hot Sauce is known for and adding Taco Bell's Spicy Ranch sauce' Purple Chile Sauce: 'a rich purple sauce featuring three unique chiles: Ají Panca, Habanero and Ghost Pepper' Crispy Fajitas: 'tempura battered crispy bell pepper, onions and jalapeños paired with white habanero ranch for dipping' Queso Fundido Rolled Chicken Taquitos: 'crispy taquitos stuffed with chicken with a green chili queso fundido for dipping' Short Rib Chile Relleno Burrito: 'Anaheim green chile stuffed with melted cheese and short rib beef' Brisket Taco: 'featuring slow-roasted brisket, shredded cheese and purple cabbage' Poutine Fries: 'seasoned fries topped with slow-roasted pork, savory gravy and cheese curds' Ube Strawberry Cookie: 'a crisp and chewy sugar cookie stuffed with rich vanilla ube cream featuring strawberry pieces in the cookie and filling plus a flurry of sprinkles' Mexican Pizza Empanada: 'the cult classic Mexican Pizza inside of a flakey crispy empanada' Mini Taco Salad: 'a bite-sized version of the taco salad that was on Taco Bell menus from 1984 to 2017 with added salsa verde and lime' Tacodilla: 'an oversized taco shell made with a corn flour tortilla filled with carne asada, melted cheese, guajillo pepper sauce and grilled to perfection' Salted Caramel & Toffee Cream Empanada Bite: 'a twist on the beloved Caramel Apple Empanada featuring salted caramel and toffee cream' Test Kitchen? Great! We volunteer as test subject. You can read all about merch drops, celebrity partnerships, and new menu deals at Taco Bell's official Live Más roundup. But we're mostly just focused on those crispy cheese taco shells. Not out of selfishness or anything. But because they could truly unite all of us.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taco Bell Announces Fan-Favorite Crispy Chicken Nuggets Are Coming Back This Year
Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken Nuggets will be back on the menu in 2025! At its annual Live Más event on Tuesday, March 4, in New York City, the taco chain announced the upcoming return of its popular Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which were briefly introduced in late December 2024. They were listed on the menu only "while supplies last," and fans were heartbroken when the crispy snack was no longer offered about a month later, taking to social media to express their disappointment. Related: Taco Bell Launches Las Vegas-Themed Wedding Package with Elvis Impersonator and Hot Sauce Bouquet for $777 'I miss the chicken nuggets,' one Reddit user posted. 'They were so good!! It disappeared so fast…' Another replied: 'Yeah. These tasted better over any other fast food nuggets.' The nuggets, of which PEOPLE got an early taste in December, are made from all-white meat chicken, marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and tossed in a mixture of breadcrumbs and tortilla chips. The crispy chicken also came with three sauces: Taco Bell-exclusive Hidden Valley Fire Ranch, Bell Sauce and Jalapeño Honey Mustard Sauce. Taco Bell is also putting another twist on the recent favorite, the fast food restaurant announced in a press release. "In addition to a la carte options, there will also be Crispy Chicken Burritos and Tacos hitting menus in U.S. and Canada locations this year alongside Avocado Ranch and Spicy Ranchero Sauce," the release read. Related: Taco Bell Revives 5 Retro Menu Items from the 1960s to the 2000s and They're All Less Than $3 Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In addition to the nuggets, Taco Bell's 2025 releases include a number of new items, such as the Grilled Cheese Burrito with Shredded Beef, a Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupa, a Flamin' Hot Burrito, Steak and Queso Crunchwrap Sliders, a Rolled Poblano Quesadilla and a Quesocrisp Taco. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FROM THE DRIVE-THRU TO THE BIG SCREEN: TACO BELL FEATURES NEARLY 400 REAL FANS IN ITS BIG GAME AD
Longtime enthusiasts Doja Cat and LeBron James watch from the sidelines as the brand's most devoted fans steal the show in 30-second commercial TLDR: Taco Bell marked its return to the Big Game by premiering an unforgettable 30-second commercial on February 9, revealing which of the brand's biggest everyday fans turned a simple drive-through visit into Big Game fame. A tribute to the fans who define what it means to Live Más at Taco Bell, nearly 400 fans made the final cut from the 3,000+ fans who rolled through the drive- thru, bringing real moments like baby announcements, vow renewals, and graduations to the Big Game spotlight. Brand icons Doja Cat and LeBron James interrupt the fan-filled third quarter ad with brief cameo appearances, doing their best to be part of the moment. Assets from Taco Bell's Big Game spot, "The Fans," can be found here. IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco Bell's Big Game commercial, titled "The Fans," debuted for the first time tonight, transforming everyday drive-thru visits into lasting memories as nearly 400 real fans premiered on the nation's biggest stage. In December, more than 3,000 fans rolled through Taco Bell's Live Más Drive-Thru Cams, a first-of-its-kind photobooth experience capturing bestie Baja Blast runs, sonogram reveals, and guitar solos for an opportunity to appear in the 30-second Big Game commercial upending the usual celebrity-filled playbook. Tonight, the magic of the drive-thru came to life as Taco Bell fans shared in seeing their unforgettable moments hit the big stage in a celebration of pure, unfiltered fandom—proof that Taco Bell's true stars are the passionate fans who Live Más every day. "Big Game commercials tend to only lean on big-name celebrities, but we decided to flip the approach knowing very well the best Taco Bell moments don't need a script," said Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer at Taco Bell. "Our fans bring incredible Live Más spirit to the drive-thru every day, with families, pets, and celebrations in tow, so we're putting them in the spotlight as a reminder that the most authentic representation of our brand isn't staged—it's lived." Taco Bell's Biggest Stars—The Fans—Stole the ShowTaco Bell's drive-thru scene was made for the big screen as fans from all walks of life showed up for the big game opportunity. In Cleveland, one couple decided to turn their Taco Bell drive-thru visit into an unforgettable pregnancy announcement featuring their sonogram, while another couple turned their Live Más Drive-Thru Cam experience into their wedding anniversary photoshoot. In Los Angeles, parents marked their 1-month-old's first drive-thru visit with a Mexican Pizza, while in Cookeville a superfan proved his Taco Bell fandom by double fisting Baja Blasts*. What began as a simple craving turned into a nationwide celebration and on Sunday night, hundreds of these Taco Bell fans across the nation shared a once-in-a-lifetime moment bringing total strangers together as they watched their Live Más Drive-Thru Cam moments unfold on the biggest stage for the first time. When Fans Take the Spotlight, Celebrities Take the SidelinesLeBron James and Doja Cat made surprise cameos in the Big Game ad to express their disappointment at being upstaged by everyday fans who brought the Live Más spirit to millions watching live. The spot builds on a series of playful attempts by the two Taco Bell fans to join the action after learning that real fans would take center stage. In last month's lead-up teaser, Doja Cat hilariously photobombed fans, trying to sneak her way into the final cut. "I'm not just here for the hype—I've always been a real Taco Bell fan, even when the cameras aren't rolling," said Doja Cat. "So yes, I've called them out to bring back my favorite menu item, and for not making me the star of the Big Game ad. But at the end of the day, that's what real fans do—we're passionate and we make Taco Bell, Taco Bell. I'm just glad that I can still have my Mexican Pizza." Taco Bell fans LeBron and Doja Cat ultimately make cameos in a vibrant montage of passionate fans from all corners of the country, bringing their energy to Taco Bell's Live Más Drive-Thru Cams, which opened in five U.S. cities for a limited time in December. "I've been a fan of Taco Bell for a long time, but playing a part in this level of fandom has been crazy and a lot of fun," said LeBron James. "This time it's about bringing ALL fans, the real MVPs, off the sidelines and into the game where we all belong—and that's what Taco Bell has always been about." Extending The Fan Fun Post-GameAnyone who misses the premiere of the ad spot or wishes they could have been featured will have more ways to relive the fun on social media platforms. A first-of-its-kind partnership with TikTok, Taco Bell will be releasing a unique TopView filter post-game allowing fans to insert themselves into the spot and show off their true fandom. Additionally, Taco Bell Reward Members still have a chance to vote for and redeem a free Crunchy Taco, Crunchwrap, Mexican Pizza, or Chalupa with any delivery order in the Taco Bell app, through the end of the day on February 9.** To stay up to date on all the ways Taco Bell is celebrating the fans this year, join Taco Bell Rewards*** and follow along on Taco Bell social channels. Big Game Comeback Introduces Acclaimed DirectorTaco Bell's Big Game ad spot, available on YouTube and across social media channels, was produced by creative agency, Biite and directed by Grammy® Award winner Dave Meyers, marking his first collaboration with Taco Bell. This year's ad follows the brand's standout 2022 Big Game spot featuring Doja Cat, who introduced a bold new way to Live Más with the debut of an original song. * Images captured from parked vehicles. ** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO VOTE. Voting begins 2/07/2025 at 12:00:01 AM PST, ends 2/09/2025 at 11:45:59 PM PST. Open to Taco Bell Rewards Program members logged into the Taco Bell mobile app. Limit one vote per person/account. Reward valid upon receipt through 2/9/25 at 11:59:59 PM PST, and is redeemable once only for a delivery order placed on the app at participating U.S. Taco Bell locations, while supplies last. Rewards are not transferable, have no cash value and cannot be redeemed with some other rewards. Delivery is not available in all locations. Delivery fee and other fees may apply. Fees may apply for substitutions, upgrades or add-ons. Reward valid for one of the following items depending on your vote: Seasoned Beef or Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme; Seasoned Beef or Veggie Mexican Pizza; Seasoned Beef or Black Bean Chalupa Supreme; or Seasoned Beef Crunchy Taco. Other terms apply: Void where prohibited. ***Taco Bell Rewards program is available at participating US locations and subject to terms and conditions: About Taco Bell more than 62 years, Taco Bell has brought innovative, craveable Mexican-inspired food to the masses, and was recently recognized as one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies, one of TIME's Most Influential Companies, and Nation's Restaurant News' Brand Icon. For more information about Taco Bell, visit our website at our Newsroom at or check out You can also stay up to date on all things Taco Bell by following us on LinkedIn, TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook and by subscribing to our YouTube channel. About the FansMore than customers, Taco Bell fans are a diverse community that bring energy, enthusiasm, and a deep love for bold flavors and unforgettable experiences, from late-night drive-thru runs to creative menu hacks. The heart of Taco Bell is about much more than food—it's the fans who make every trip to the drive-thru a moment worth celebrating. This moment is for them. About Doja CatGRAMMY award-winning global superstar Doja Cat made her first upload to Soundcloud in 2013 at just 16 years old. Having grown up in and around the LA area, she developed a knack for music by studying piano and dance as a kid and listening to the likes of Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and more. Signed to Kemosabe/RCA Records in 2014, she released her Purrr! EP and followed that with her debut album Amala in spring 2018, but it was her August 2018 release of "MOOO!" which catapulted her into the mainstream and was met with critical acclaim. Doja Cat released her sophomore GRAMMY-nominated platinum album Hot Pink in November 2019 to mass critical acclaim; the album has garnered 7 billion streams worldwide. It features "Streets", the viral sensation that soundtracked the 'Silhouette Challenge,' one of the biggest TikTok trends to date, and her GRAMMY-nominated #1 smash record "Say So" which has been RIAA certified 6x platinum and catapulted Doja Cat into global superstardom. With over 33 billion worldwide streams to date, Doja Cat's creativity and showmanship as a performer have been praised time and time again, she has delivered unique and show-stopping performances on nearly all the major Award Show stages and music festivals throughout the world. Doja Cat's GRAMMY award-winning album Planet Her came out in June 2021 and dominated the charts, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and generated the highest first day Spotify streams for an album by a female rapper. GRAMMY award-winning "Kiss Me More" ft. SZA, the lead single off Planet Her is certified 5x platinum by the RIAA and hit #1 at Top 40 and Rhythm radio with over 2.5 billion streams worldwide. That fall, Doja Cat became the first rapper to have 3 songs in the Top 10 at Top 40 radio. Her hit track "Woman" went to the top of the Billboard Rhythmic Airplay charts which ascended her to become the first woman to have four #1 hits from one album, other hits including "You Right" with The Weeknd and "Need to Know." She went on to land at #1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the first time. Amongst others, Doja Cat has won 5 AMAs, 5 Billboard Music Awards, 5 MTV VMAs, 3 BMI Awards, 2 MTV EMAs, 1 GRAMMY Award, and 1 NAACP Image Award along with garnering a total of 19 GRAMMY Award nominations. Additionally, Doja Cat has been nominated for 20 Billboard Music Awards, 18 MTV VMAs, 9 AMAs, 10 BET Awards, 8 MTV EMAs, 5 BMI Awards, and dozens more. Doja Cat was named one of TIME100's Most Influential People of 2023, where she was featured on the April 2023 cover issue and performed at the TIME100 Gala in New York City. In September 2023, Doja Cat released her fourth studio album, Scarlet, which has been RIAA certified platinum and features smash hits "Agora Hills" (RIAA certified 2x platinum) and "Paint The Town Red" (RIAA certified 4x platinum). After releasing Scarlet, Doja Cat went on her first-ever North American headline tour, The Scarlet Tour. In April 2024, Doja Cat released her latest deluxe album, Scarlet 2 CLAUDE. In that same month, Doja Cat headlined Coachella 2024 and delivered an unforgettable performance. Currently, Doja Cat is gearing up for new music coming soon. Ronald Quintero – Taco Bell Rosie Herzog – View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Taco Bell Corp. Sign in to access your portfolio
