From business leadership to biomedical science to technical training, Placer High students are getting more opportunities to explore what comes next, thanks in part to a new $30,000 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation.

The grant is the fourth and largest award the Hillmen Foundation has received from the Taco Bell Foundation, bringing Taco Bell’s total investment in Hillmen Foundation-supported programs to $55,000 over four years.

For the Hillmen Foundation, the investment represents much more than a grant. It’s an example of what can happen when local businesses, community members, alumni and other partners come together to create more opportunities for Placer High students.

Building Pathways to What Comes Next

The Taco Bell Foundation grant will support Placer Pathways, a Hillmen Foundation initiative focused on strengthening college and career readiness at Placer High.

While Placer Pathways is a new framework that brings greater focus to this work, helping students prepare for life beyond high school has been part of the Hillmen Foundation’s mission for more than 35 years.

Placer Pathways supports a coordinated range of opportunities that help students explore their interests, build real-world skills and envision what comes after graduation. The latest grant will help support:

• Business Leadership curriculum, providing hands-on experience in teamwork, mentorship, project management and skills that translate to college and the workplace.
• Leadership programs and activities designed to keep students interested, connected and engaged in school, helping them stay on track toward graduation and future opportunities.
• Biomedical Science, a new Career Technical Education pathway in partnership with Project Lead the Way. Students explore biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology and epidemiology while connecting classroom learning to healthcare careers.
• Workforce, college and dual-enrollment opportunities, including hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school.

Placer High currently offers 14 Career and Technical Education courses across multiple sectors, including agriculture, welding and construction, automotive repair, theater and fine arts, journalism, business communications, science, technology and game design, firefighting and public safety, and physical and sports therapy.

The Hillmen Foundation also supports broader college and career initiatives, including college and career fairs, mock interviews with business leaders, and business and college tours.

“Because Placer High is a Title I school serving many students from low-income families, access to these experiences can make an enormous difference,” said Principal Jaime Jackson. “These programs give students opportunities to discover their strengths, see possibilities for their futures and stay engaged in their education as they work toward graduation.”

Bridging Critical Funding Gaps

Supporting opportunities like these is at the heart of the Hillmen Foundation’s mission.

Founded in 1989, the Foundation is an independent, all-volunteer California public charity dedicated to enriching the Placer High experience. The Foundation helps bridge critical funding gaps in academics, athletics and student activities when funding is limited or not available, providing resources that might otherwise be out of reach.

That can mean supporting a classroom program, helping fund an athletic need, providing resources for a student activity, expanding career exploration or helping create an opportunity that simply would not happen without community support.

And it takes a community to make that work possible.

“We know that helping students prepare for their futures is a community effort,” said David Odom, chair of the Hillmen Foundation and a 1982 Placer graduate. “Strong partnerships allow us to extend what is possible for Placer High students. We are grateful to Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation for investing in our community and helping us create more opportunities for students to succeed.”

When “Round Up” Comes Back Home

The Taco Bell Foundation’s support of the Hillmen Foundation is a great example of how a small contribution can make a meaningful local impact.

The Hillmen Foundation was nominated for the Community Grant by local Taco Bell franchisees, including Gary Lyon, a Taco Bell franchise owner and 1974 Placer High graduate.

The grant is funded in part through Taco Bell’s Round Up program, a year-round opportunity that allows customers to donate spare change to the Taco Bell Foundation by rounding their purchase total up to the nearest dollar.

“People may think of Round Up as just a few extra cents, but those cents add up to something really powerful,” said Lyon. “The money comes back into communities and supports organizations making a difference for young people right here at home.”

And the impact of those small contributions continues to grow.

In 2026, the Taco Bell Foundation announced its largest Community Grants investment to date: $32 million supporting 700 nonprofits nationwide, representing a 40% increase in nonprofit partners from the previous year. Fueled in part by customers who Round Up their Taco Bell orders—averaging just 43 cents per order—the grants support organizations working in education, career readiness, mentorship and youth empowerment.

“When you think about how this started, with fans giving a little extra at checkout, it’s incredible to see that generosity grow into $32 million for organizations serving young people across the country,” said Morgan Tabor, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “What I love most about Community Grants is how local they are. Taco Bell franchisees know these organizations, they believe in their work, and together we’re helping more young people see just how much is possible for their futures.”

Investing in the Hillmen Experience

The Taco Bell Foundation grant is one example of what community support makes possible through the Hillmen Foundation.

Because the Foundation is powered entirely by volunteers, 100% of funds raised goes back to supporting our mission of enriching the Placer High experience. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Every gift helps bridge a gap and create an opportunity—whether that’s in a classroom, on a playing field, on a stage, in a student club or as part of a program helping a student envision what comes after graduation.

The Hillmen Foundation is proud to invest in the students of Placer High and grateful to the businesses, families, alumni and community members who make that investment possible.

Want to learn more or support the Hillmen Foundation? Visit hillmenfoundation.org to learn more about our programs, impact and ways to get involved.