Dollar General’s Literacy Foundation to donate $4.5M supporting literacy
Dollar General and its Dollar General Literacy Foundation are looking to support students, teachers and nonprofit organizations helping improve youth literacy across the country.
The Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based company announced that it would be donating $4.5 million to support this initiative, which includes more than $3 million in youth literacy grants, a new $1.45 million partnership with DonorsChoose and a $500,000 donation to a local nonprofit for World Teacher Day.
“At Dollar General, we’re committed to being here for what matters most to the communities we call home,” Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer and Dollar General Literacy Foundation board member said. “The urgency to support youth literacy has never been greater, and we are honored to support the teachers, school officials, library staff and a network of nonprofits working every day to ensure the next generation is able to build the skills necessary to thrive and achieve their ambitions.”
[Read More: Schnucks encouraging mammograms, raising funds for United Way]
Through the grants, the company will support about 760 schools, libraries and nonprofits across the 46 states in which it operates, the company said.
“The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has been proud to invest in literacy and education programs for nearly 30 years,” Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and vice president of corporate social responsibility at Dollar General said. “As the educational landscape continues to shift, these funds will help increase access and resources for students, educators and communities dedicated to reading and learning.”
Funds provided to DonorsChoose will help provide tools and resources in underserved schools where a vast majority of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, the company said.
[Read More: Winn-Dixie kicks off breast cancer awareness campaign]
"Books can encourage a child to pursue their dreams, tap into their creativity and see their identity reflected in a story's characters. Our partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation empowers teachers to create these experiences for their students at the onset of the new school year," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.