Archive for 'Taco Bell'
Taco Bell donates $30,000 of improvements to Mayport USO Center
Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Creatwood.
Taco Bell donates $30,000 of improvements to Greater Jacksonville Area USO Mayport Center
Jacksonville, Fla., April 22, 2010: Taco Bell franchisee Southeast QSR Inc., has donated a remodeled communications room and children’s play area to the Greater Jacksonville Area USO on behalf of the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF) to upgrade the USO Mayport Center. The total donation, including construction and new equipment, was $30,000.
The improved communications room will allow military families to see their loved ones overseas as they speak to them through an online connection. Renovations include privacy cubicles around all computer stations, 12 new Dell computers with Skype telecommunications technology (nine for the communications room and three for USO staff), and nine Logitech Web cams.
“This will make a huge impact on families, especially the children, here,” Mayport USO Center Director Ed Champagne said. “It’s one thing to talk to someone over the phone, but to be able to see your loved one who is 8,000 miles away is phenomenal.”
The children’s play area will receive new carpeting, a baby changing table, toys and books, a fresh coat of paint and an improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
“The new children’s room will allow parents the freedom to talk during play groups,” said Helen Williams, New Parent Support Specialist for the Fleet & Family Support Center. “They need to connect with other parents in the same situation while their children are kept busy playing.”
Area residents can donate new toys, games and books for the children’s play area, during a collection at participating Taco Bell restaurants in Jacksonville, from Monday, April 26 through Friday, April 30. Taco Bell will provide donors a coupon redeemable for a free Seasoned Beef Taco while supplies last.
The completed project will be presented at 3 p.m., May 3 at the USO Mayport Center. At the event, Taco Bell will host a catered lunch and announce the renovations that have been made to the military families in attendance.
At 3:15 p.m., a virtual ribbon cutting will take place in the communications room. Delina Eden will connect with her son, Sgt. Marshall Tostie, in Iraq via the new Web cams and computers with Skype.
“I’m so excited,” Eden said. “I’ve come here for three years to talk to my son and husband during deployments, and now I will be able to see their faces. I plan to use these computers a lot more now.”
The improvements were funded through a Freedom Bells fundraiser in November, in which Taco Bell sold paper bell icons for $1 with all proceeds going to the AFFF. More than $60,000 was raised at Taco Bell restaurants in Mobile, Ala.; Augusta and Southeast, Ga.; and Pensacola and Jacksonville, Fla.; to benefit military families in each area.
The AFFF is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of service members and their families. One hundred percent of all donations go to benefit the well-being and support of troops and their families.
“With the help of Taco Bell volunteers and the many loyal patrons who gave donations during our fundraiser, we are able to give families at Mayport a better experience when communicating with loved ones overseas,” said Thaddeus Foster, Chief Operations Officer for Southeast QSR, a Taco Bell franchisee. “Next, we plan to implement similar projects in areas of need at military bases in Augusta and Mobile.”
The AFFF asks the public to suggest projects in Augusta and Mobile, or to give feedback. Visit www.facebook.com/armedforcesfamilies.
For more information:
Southeast QSR: http://www.theborder.com/BA/pledge.asp
Armed Forces Families Foundation: http://www.armedforcesfamilies.org/
USO Jacksonville: http://www.usojax.org
Media Contact:
Julianne Shasteen
(904) 343-0211
jshasteen@creatwoodpr.com
Taco Bell Contact:
Thaddeus Foster
Chief Operations Officer/Franchisee, Southeast QSR
(904) 543-1838
Thaddeus@theborder.com
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Taco Bell volunteers help with renovations at Mayport USO Center
Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Creatwood.
Taco Bell volunteers will work on Mayport USO Center renovations Monday, April 26
Jacksonville, Fla., April 22, 2010: Taco Bell franchisee Southeast QSR Inc., has donated a remodeled communications room and children’s play area to the Mayport USO Center on behalf of the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF). The total donation, including construction and new equipment, was approximately $30,000. The funding for these projects was raised during a November fundraiser at Taco Bell restaurants.
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 26, Taco Bell volunteers donning t-shirts to support the AFFF will work on the renovations. The renovations include new computers with Skype capabilities and Web cams in the communications room so military families can better communicate with loved ones overseas. The children’s play area will receive a new batch of toys and books, an HVAC heating and air conditioning system, carpeting, a flat screen TV, and a fresh coat of paint.
Renovations are set to be complete by Monday, May 3. Media are welcome to stop by the USO Center any time Monday, April 26 to see the volunteers at work and to capture images of the improvements local military families have to look forward to.
Mayport USO Welcome Center
2560 Mayport Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
(904) 246-3481
www.jaxuso.org
Media Contact:
Julianne Shasteen
(904) 343-0211
jshasteen@creatwoodpr.com
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Taco Bell asks for public opinion on areas of need at military bases
Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Creatwood.
Taco Bell donates improved communications center and play area to military base in need
Taco Bell asks for public opinion for similar projects on Augusta and Mobile bases
Augusta, Ga., April 20, 2010: Southeast QSR, a Taco Bell franchise, is using the proceeds from a November fundraiser to remodel the USO family communications center near Mayport naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., on behalf of the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF).
This project will install privacy cubicles around all computer stations, replace used computers with 12 newer model Dell computers (9 for the communications room and 3 for USO staff), and install 9 Logitech Web cams. This will allow military families to better communicate with their loved ones while they are deployed.
In addition, the children’s play area in the same facility will receive new carpeting, a baby changing table, new toys and books, as well as improved HVAC air conditioning and a fresh coat of paint.
“With the help of Taco Bell volunteers and the many loyal patrons who gave donations during our fundraiser, we are able to give families at Mayport a better experience when communicating with loved ones overseas,” said Thaddeus Foster, chief operations officer for Southeast QSR, a Taco Bell franchise. “Next, we plan to implement similar projects in areas of need on military bases in Augusta and Mobile.”
The Armed Forces Families Foundation would like to ask the public to help identify areas of need for military families on or near bases in Augusta, Ga. and Mobile, Ala. To give feedback, visit www.facebook.com/armedforcesfamilies and leave your opinions on the wall.
The initial fundraiser for these projects, which lasted from Nov. 11 through 24, 2009, raised more than $60,000 at Taco Bell restaurants in Mobile, Ala., Augusta and Southeast, Ga., and Pensacola and Jacksonville, Fla. to benefit military families in each area.
The coordinated efforts of Southeast QSR partners, the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF) and USO Jacksonville have made these projects possible. “This will make a huge impact on families, especially the children, here,” said Ed Champagne, Mayport USO Center Director. “It’s one thing to talk to someone over the phone, but to be able to see your loved one who is 8,000 miles away is phenomenal.”
The grand opening for the improved Mayport family communications center and children’s play area is scheduled for May 3, 2010. Plans for upcoming projects in Augusta, Ga. and Mobile, Ala. will begin shortly after.
“The new children’s play area will allow parents the freedom to talk during play groups,” said Helen Williams, New Parent Support Specialist for the Fleet & Family Support Center. “They need to connect with other parents in the same situation while their children are kept busy playing.”
Southeast QSR Contact:
Thaddeus Foster
Chief Operations Officer/Franchisee, Southeast QSR
(904) 543-1838
Thaddeus@theborder.com
Southeast QSR: http://www.theborder.com/BA/pledge.asp
Armed Forces Families Foundation: http://www.armedforcesfamilies.org/
USO Jacksonville: http://affiliates.uso.org/Jacksonvilleflorida/
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Taco Bell restaurants raise more than $60,000 to benefit local military families
Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Creatwood.
Taco Bell restaurants raise more than $60,000 to benefit local military families
Jacksonville, Fla. – Dec. 7, 2009: Southeast QSR is working with local military bases to identify projects that could be funded with $60,036 in contributions collected by area Taco Bell restaurants during a recent fundraiser.
From Nov. 11 through 24, Taco Bell patrons and employees at Southeast QSR franchises in Augusta and Southeast, Ga.; Jacksonville and Pensacola, Fla.; and Mobile, Ala. contributed to a fundraiser on behalf of the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF). Southeast QSR has given an additional $5,000 to each market (Augusta, Mobile and Jacksonville) to make the fundraiser’s total $60,036.
Fifty-nine Southeast QSR Taco Bell restaurants and one Pizza Hut participated in the fundraiser. Augusta area restaurants raised $4,218, Mobile raised $14,704 and Jacksonville raised $26,114. Ten individual Taco Bell restaurants raised more than $1,000.
The next step in this campaign will be to identify areas of need on local bases and assign specific projects to each to help make deployments, military life and war injuries easier to cope with for soldiers and their loved ones.
The AFFF assists the first line of support for military men and women – their families. The nonprofit organization has completed two major projects, including a Family Wellness Center at Ft. Irwin, Ca., and a family rest area at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“I’m very proud of the dedicated Taco Bell employees and our awesome guests who helped take this fundraiser above and beyond our expectations,” said Thaddeus Foster, Chief Operations Officer of Southeast QSR. “With the money raised, we plan to support the troops by supporting their families. Our goal is to invest in permanent projects on military bases that will help our troops and their families both now and in the future.”
Southeast QSR owns and operates 59 Taco Bell restaurants in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The franchise is active in many community nonprofit programs and is currently working toward increasing support for military families.
For more information, please visit the following Web sites:
Southeast QSR: http://www.theborder.com/BA/pledge.asp
Armed Forces Families Foundation: http://www.armedforcesfamilies.org/
Southeast QSR Contact:
Thaddeus Foster
Chief Operations Officer/Franchisee, Southeast QSR
(904) 543-1838
Thaddeus@theborder.com
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Let freedom bells ring
Posted on 02. Nov, 2009 by Creatwood.
Let freedom bells ring
Taco Bell Donation Campaign Will Benefit Local Military Families
Jacksonville, Fla. – Nov. 2, 2009: Taco Bell franchise locations in Mobile, Ala.; Augusta and Southeast, Ga.; and Jacksonville and Pensacola, Fla. will collect donations from Nov. 11 through 24 to benefit military members and their families.
Donations can be made at participating Taco Bell restaurants by purchasing a personalized paper bell or just by giving extra change from meal purchases. One hundred percent of donations made will go toward specific projects to benefit local military families. Donors who give $1 or more will also receive a coupon for one free taco at Taco Bell on their next visit, while supplies last.
Taco Bell will collect donations on behalf of the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF). All efforts and services will be provided free of charge by dedicated Taco Bell volunteers and by Prometheus Partners, LLC, a private equity fund that invests in franchised restaurants. Prometheus will match 100% of donations up to $5,000 for each regional location (Augusta, Jacksonville and Mobile).
The AFFF assists the first line of support for military men and women – their families. The AFFF has completed two major projects, including a Family Wellness Center at Ft. Irwin, Ca., and a family rest area at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The foundation is working on a Family Readiness Program for the Marine Special Operations Battalion in Camp Pendleton, Ca., which is one of the most heavily deployed units of the Marine Corps.
For more information, please visit the following Web sites:
Southeast QSR (Taco Bell Franchises)
Armed Forces Families Foundation
Prometheus Partners, LLC
Southeast QSR Contact:
Thaddeus Foster
Chief Operations Officer/Franchisee, Southeast QSR
(904) 543-1838
Thaddeus@theborder.com
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