Since 2017, Utah Tacofest has raised and donated more than $20,000 to charities such as Meals on Wheels and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. This year the organization will donate to Kennedy Jr. High School’s after-school program to highlight its benefit to the community.

Utah Tacofest, the two-day cultural event, was held at the beginning of August at the Utah State Fairpark with live music, a lowriders car show, kids zone, dancing, giveaways and more than 20 taco vendors serving mouthwatering tacos as they competed for Best Taco Awards in seven categories.

Each year, Utah Tacofest donates a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to a deserving charity. Organizers recognized that the KJHS after-school program strengthens and provides academic support to students at KJHS in West Valley City.

“Kennedy Jr. High after-school program prides itself in helping many students improve their grades, inspires them to attend college and pursue other career paths through our enrichment classes,” said Frank Bedolla, the KJHS after-school program coordinator. “In the last five years, we have reached hundreds of students in our tutoring classes, with teachers and youth counselors helping students individually. Our after-school program students work hard each quarter with a GPA goal to earn a field trip, which the taco fest funds will be used to support.”

Utah’s Tacofest is a Latino-owned, local event founded by Marcelo Bayon. He organized the first Tacofest at the Mexican Civic Center in 2017. For more information about Utah Tacofest visit www.utahtacofest.com.