Teen Leaders Discuss Challenges

Boys & Girls Club of America
Friday, 22 March 2002

Club Alumnus Mark Wahlberg Addresses 1,500 Youth at TEENSupreme® Keystone Conference

What does actor Mark Wahlberg have in common with the 1,500 Boys & Girls Club members meeting in Anaheim from March 21-23?

Growing up in Dorchester, Mass., Wahlberg was once a member of a Boys & Girls Club. He spoke to the teenagers as they gather in Anaheim to challenge their peers to make positive changes in their lives, community and country during Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 35th National TEENSupreme® Keystone Conference.

Sponsored by the Taco Bell FoundationTM, the Keystone Conference in Anaheim hosts teens from across the country to begin "Making Waves From Coast to Coast." Planned and led by a steering committee of youth leaders, the three-day event, March 21 - 23 at the Anaheim Marriott, challenges today's youth to make the tough choices needed to lead productive lives in our increasingly hi-tech and culturally diverse world. Discussion topics include drug and alcohol abuse, tolerance, the benefits of achieving a higher education, improving society's outlook on teens and more.

The Keystone Conference began last night with a welcome by B&GCA President Roxanne Spillett and Greg Creed, chief marketing officer, Taco Bell Corp. followed by an address by Wahlberg. Wahlberg returns on Saturday, March 23, to celebrate and recognize the outstanding programs and projects conducted by Keystoners around the globe.

The national conference is part of TEENSupreme®, a $15 million outreach initiative targeting at-risk teens, sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation and administered by B&GCA. Keystone Clubs are leadership groups, ages 14-18, within Boys & Girls Clubs that focus on community service.

"During the last six years, the contributions we've collected helped more than 500,000 at-risk teens become productive young adults and active members in their communities," said Hillary Niblo, Executive Director, Taco Bell Foundation. "By donating money or time, every one of us can make a difference in the life of a teen and the future of this country."

The Taco Bell Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, was established by the Taco Bell Corporation as a public charity in 1992 to help the communities it serves. Money for the TEENSupreme program is raised by the foundation through charitable donations collected in canisters in the company's restaurants as well as participating franchise restaurants.

For more information, or to contact Boys & Girls Club of America, see their website at: www.bgca.org