For teenagers, the future can often seem abstract — a distant reality set against another awkward conversation about life plans. The Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area is working to make that future clearer through its new Teen Center, a dedicated space where local youth can spend time after school while preparing for adulthood.
To support the initiative, the club received a $40,000 community grant from the Taco Bell Foundation in partnership with local franchisee K-MAC Enterprises. The funds will primarily support workforce development and career-readiness programming for teens ages 13 to 17.
The grant was funded through Taco Bell’s Round Up program, which allows customers at participating locations to round their orders up to the nearest dollar to support youth initiatives.
For Elisabeth Cawthon, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area, the grant arrives at a meaningful time following the opening of the new space.
“We have been serving teens for many years now,” Cawthon said. She referenced West Plains Girl Scout Avery Lankford’s recent community betterment project, “Roots for the Future: Building a Safer and Engaging Environment for Youth,” which earned Lankford the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. Lankford secured funding for the project, coordinated volunteers and contributed her own labor to renovate the teen room.
“Thanks to Avery’s Gold Project and Taco Bell Foundation funding, we now have a dedicated teen space with teen-only programming,” Cawthon said.
She explained that the center gives older youth a positive after-school environment focused on practical skill-building. The Taco Bell grant will expand those efforts through career exploration and job readiness.
Participants will be introduced to regional career opportunities and practical workplace mechanics, including resume building, interview practice, professional presentation, goal setting and digital literacy. Program curriculum also emphasizes learning how to give and receive constructive feedback.
The goal, Cawthon noted, is to give teenagers practical steps to achieve their ambitions.
The funding is expected to support 15 to 30 teens. Cawthon said the club currently has openings in its teen program and is offering a 50% discount on membership fees for that age group. Parents interested in enrolling can visit bgcwp.com and click the “Membership Portal” button.
“Many of our kids come from less privileged backgrounds,” Cawthon said. “When they enter the Boys & Girls Club, they are walking through a door of opportunities that can set them up for a successful future.”
The $40,000 grant also provides needed operational support for the organization, a nonprofit with about $875,000 in annual operating expenses. Membership fees cover less than 10% of those costs, leaving the club reliant on community support and grant funding.
Grant funds will help staff the Teen Center with positive role models, purchase workforce curriculum supplies and cover operational expenses.
The organization serves students across 14 schools in two counties, maintaining ongoing needs in its elementary and middle school programs as well. While the one-year grant requires reapplication, future funding depends heavily on local customer participation in Taco Bell's Round Up program.
“Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens,” Cawthon said. “This grant helps us help youth connect with outlets in which to be productive with their time now, and in the future.”
