POCATELLO — The 6th Judicial District CASA has announced that it has received a community grant from the Taco Bell Foundation.

The grant is $37,340 and will be used to support educational and career preparation for children in the Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, program, according to a news release. It will help youth in six local counties have the resources they need to achieve their goals.

Lesli Schei, executive director of 6th District CASA, said in the news release that the program was recently able to help an extended foster care participant purchase college textbooks that she would not have been able to get on her own.

"This is the kind of support we can offer the children and youth in our program thanks to the money this grant provides," Schei said in the news release. "We are also able to train our volunteers on college and career readiness programs to help the youth who are getting ready to age out of the child protection system."

This year has been the biggest year of Community Grants for the Taco Bell Foundation. It has donated a total of $32 million to 700 nonprofits nationwide. It is funded by Taco Bell customers who round up their order totals.

Morgan Tabor, executive director for the Taco Bell Foundation, said in the news release that it's incredible to see the generosity of Taco Bell customers add up to that amount of money to give away. Each grant is meant to support young people through education, career readiness and mentorship.

"What I love most about Community Grants is how local they are," Tabor said in the news release. "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."

In the fiscal year 2026, 6th Judicial District CASA served 384 children in six counties. The program provides each child with a volunteer advocate who investigates their case and makes best interest recommendations to judges.

The volunteer's job is to find a permanent home for the child, whether with their biological family or through adoption. Children who are unable to find a permanent home by the time they reach adulthood have services such as the Taco Bell Foundation Community Grant to help them.

More information about 6th Judicial District CASA can be found at casa6id.org.