[Hickory, NC] – October 21, 2016 —The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center a $3,000 grant to support youth literacy.  This local grant is part of $4.5 million in youth literacy grants awarded to approximately 1,000 organizations across the 43 states that Dollar General serves. Given at the beginning of the academic school year, these grants are aimed at supporting teachers, schools and organizations with resources to strengthen and enhance literacy instruction.

“We are honored that the Dollar General Literacy Foundation invested in our efforts to improve literacy in Catawba County,” said Angela Lawrence, Executive Director of Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center.  “These funds will be used to purchase supplementary readers for our Augustine Literacy Project students and books for the children that will participate in LIFT.”

The Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center is dedicated to helping children with learning differences become successful readers through the Augustine Literacy Project. This program trains volunteer tutors to provide one-on-one instruction, using research-based methods. Currently 30 disadvantaged children that read at least one year below grade level are being tutored. The agency’s goal is to increase that number by at least 25% by the end of the school year.

Last year the agency initiated a program named LIFT (Learning is Fun Together), a partnership with UNC-TV’s educational outreach department.  The primary aim of LIFT is to help parents become more involved in their children’s education.  Once each month at their child’s Title I school, families enjoy a meal together. Then parents and children engage in hands-on activities that teach skills that families can use at home.  At the end of each session, children receive books to take home.  Last year the program was presented at St. Stephens Elementary School where more than 700 books were distributed. LIFT started at North Newton Elementary School this fall.

“By awarding these grants, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact in our local communities,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer. “These grants provide funds to support youth literacy initiatives and educational programs throughout the communities we serve to ensure a successful academic year for students.”

Committed to helping increase the literacy skills of individuals of all ages, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $127 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping nearly 7.9 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education since its inception in 1993.  The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards grants each year to nonprofit organizations, schools and libraries within a 20-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy programs.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation also supports customers interested in learning how to read, speak English or prepare for the high school equivalency test.  At the cash register of every Dollar General store, customers may pick up a brochure with a postage-paid reply card that can be mailed in for a referral to a local organization that offers free literacy services.

The Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center increases understanding of learning differences so that the challenges for children with unique learning difficulties in Catawba County are minimized and their families are supported. The mission is accomplished specifically through providing direct instruction to low income children and information and resources for families and educators.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education as part of the company’s mission of Serving Others for over 20 years.  Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $127 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 7.9 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education. For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About Dollar General Corporation

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for over 75 years through its mission of Serving Others. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 13,000 stores in 43 states as of August 13, 2016. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. For more information on Dollar General, please visit www.dollargeneral.com.

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