KFC U.S. Reach Grant Program Expands to Include All KFC Restaurant Employees

Sep 2, 2016 9:05 AM ET

All KFC U.S. restaurant employees at participating restaurants can now apply for college tuition assistance through the recently expanded KFC REACH Educational Grant Program.

The expanded REACH Grant program, coupled with employees’ ability to earn college credit for workplace training, enables even more KFC restaurant employees to accelerate their progress toward earning a college degree. Selected employees will receive $3,000 and on top of that can earn up to 9 college credit hours through the approved in-store training programs.

With the support of KFC Franchisees and the KFC Corporation, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, also offers the REACH HIGH – High School Equivalency Program, in partnership with GED Testing Service. Every eligible KFC restaurant employee who seeks assistance through REACH HIGH is admitted into the free, all-inclusive program that provides unlimited access to GED® preparation and testing, all with the help of a personal GED Advisor™ and a test-pass guarantee.

Meet one of the recent winners, Kymberly Reeves, a KFC® shift supervisor and single mom Kymberly, who recently earned her GED through the Program.

Kymberly entered the REACH HIGH program to be a better example for her 7-year-old daughter, Mady.

“I encourage her to be very focused on her school work,” Kymberly said. “I always tell her how knowledge is power and the more you know the farther you will go. Well, I felt like a hypocrite. I didn’t even have my high school diploma. I realized for her to be the best she can be I needed to be as well.”

As for what’s next, Kymberly plans on starting college in the spring. “After being with KFC for five years… and hearing my bosses talk about me as an RGM one day, I am definitely interested in business. So, who knows? Now that I have taken that first step, the skies are the limit and I can only go up from here!”

You can meet more REACH HIGH graduates and REACH Grant winners who are being their best selves by following the KFC Foundation on Facebook.