For over 15 years, Del Taco has supported the National Ability Center, an organization established to support people with disabilities through recreational and therapeutic programs. Del Taco and the National Ability Center celebrated this partnership with their annual big check presentation on Thursday, presenting $50,560 in donations to the center. “Over the years between the Del Taco fundraising campaign and the Hitzelberger family themselves have provided about a million dollars of support to the National Ability Center, which is just incredible,” said Caitlin Bognaski, director of development at the center. The donation will provide general support to the organization, which allows them to allocate the funds exactly as needed, often going into programs and scholarships for participants in need. “Last year alone, we provided over $6.5 million in those program subsidies and scholarship dollars,” said Bognaski. Eric Hitzelberger is the chief administrative officer at Del Taco and has been a supporter of the National Ability Center for more than a decade. Hitzelberger has grown Del Taco’s scope from eight stores in 2006 to now 35 stores in the area. He first became involved with the National Ability Center through personal interest as a part of his family’s philanthropic efforts, but as the restaurant chain grew, he saw more opportunities to spread the word about the programs the center offers. “As we had a growing group of restaurants, we realized we could involve our customers even more, and in making $1 to $2 donations over time, that added up,” said Hitzelberger. “Each year it grows more and more and we have more and more to donate.” The Del Taco donation has grown substantially over time, with the highest donation reaching $52,000 during the COVID pandemic, when there was an unprecedented influx of customers looking for a non-dine-in restaurant option. “We try to put the word out with our campaign using door posters and counter stands,” said Hitzelberger. “The financial support is amazing, but it’s the brand awareness that really matters,” said Bognaski.  “With Del Taco’s locations across the state of Utah, more and more individuals know we exist and that they can come here.”“So many times we hear from people recently diagnosed with a disability that think that everything they once did is over, and it’s not! They can come here, and it might look a little different, but they can still do all the things they love,” said Bognaski. The post Del Taco family supports National Ability Center appeared first on Park Record.