Here for What Matters in Nashville, Tennessee
Nov 29, 2023
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Reflects on Literacy Success Stories During its 30th Anniversary
Today, 43 million adults in the U.S. score at or below the lowest levels of literacy according to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and a recent study from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s found that 80% of those surveyed believe that low youth literacy is a problem in the country.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) continues to invest in programs that help students learn to read and provide individuals with access to literary resources so they can pursue their educational goals and achieve their dreams. Over the last three decades, the DGLF has donated more than $238 million, which has supported more than 23,000 organizations, schools and libraries across the country and impacted nearly 20 million individuals.
“If you want to give somebody a gift that’s going to lift them up, give them the ability to read,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the DGLF.
While the Foundation takes pride in its impressive numbers, it is stories of individual learners that illustrate the Foundation’s true impact:
ZANIYAH’S STORY
First grader Zaniyah has improved her reading skills through a DGLF-funded afterschool program, Our Club, which is led by Our House, an organization that serves homeless and near-homeless families in Little Rock, Arkansas. With the help of DGLF, Our Club obtained books, curriculum, educational worksheets and literary resources to help support students. Thanks to the personalized one-on-one tutoring and safe space created Our Club, Zaniyah saw a 64-point increase in her overall literacy composition score since joining the program. Our Club has helped at least 160 more youth like Zaniyah in the last year.
ABBY’S STORY
In Middle Tennessee, Abigail (Abby) began participating in the DGLF-supported YMCA Y-Literacy program in fall 2019. Over the past four years, she has participated in 10 semesters of literacy tutoring, not only increasing her literacy skills, but also growing in confidence. Additionally, Abby remained engaged as the program went virtual during the pandemic.
“This spring is the first semester that she is reading on her grade level, thanks to her hard work and the Y-Literacy program,” Abby’s parents said recently. “The Y-Literacy program has continued to provide support and encouragement to our family, and this has been such a blessing.”
As of spring 2023, Abby has been reading at a Level 44, a 14-level increase from where she began in 2019!
Young students aren’t the only ones working to improve their literacy skills. In Nashville, Tennessee, one in five adults score at the lowest levels of literacy. The Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC), a long-time partner of DGLF, continuously raises awareness about this issue facing adults and provides resources to help individuals make a positive change. Marionth is an English language learner currently working one-on-one with a tutor at the NALC to improve her English, not only for herself but for her family.
“My son – that is my inspiration. He needs me to understand more. All that I learn, I can teach him,” Marionth shared.
TANIA’S STORY
Tania is an adult student working to improve her English with help from the YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, also a long-time partner of the DGLF. Tania believes that with increased English literacy skills, she can improve her quality of life and her children’s lives.
“I want my children to feel proud of me,” Tania shared. “I feel like I’m bettering myself. So, this the beginning of something great.”
DG’s mission of Serving Others goes beyond the Company’s stores and distribution centers. The DGLF’s impact, funding and continued support during the last 30 years are testaments to how Dollar General and the DGLF are giving back to hometown communities in a meaningful, life-changing way.
Hear more about DGLF’s impact on Nashvillians here.
DGLF HISTORY INFORMATION
Dollar General’s former CEO, Cal Turner Jr. understood the incredible impact literacy can have on an individual and family. That’s why he founded the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) in 1993 to honor his grandfather and DG’s co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was a farmer’s son and functionally illiterate with a third-grade education.
To learn more about how DG serves its communities, visit hereforwhatmatters.com.