Reading Revolution: Roselle, New Jersey

What initially seemed like a routine day of store visits for Jeff Owen, Dollar General’s executive vice president of store operations, quickly turned into a day that teachers and administrators at a New Jersey elementary school won’t soon forget.
 
Owen arrived at Washington Elementary School in Roselle, New Jersey this morning carrying a yellow and black box with a very special gift inside and ready to start a revolution. When school leaders opened the box in front of a classroom of curious students, they were surprised and elated to find a check for $50,000!  
 
“Dollar General is very passionate about its mission of Serving Others, and we are all excited to surprise Washington Elementary School with a financial donation and backpacks for the students to support its reading and literacy programs,” said Jeff Owen, Dollar General’s executive vice president of store operations.  “We hope this donation will help equip the school with the tools and resources it needs to strengthen the learning experience for students.”
 
The donation from Dollar General is part of its Reading Revolution program. The program aims to provide schools with additional resources to purchase books, computers and other educational supplies to enhance their reading and literacy programs. Since its inception in 2013, the program has provided more than $2.3 million to more than 50 schools.
  Washington Elementary School was chosen for the donation due to a special relationship that has developed between the school and Lamount Curry who serves as the store manager at Dollar General store #12585 located at 108 Chestnut Street in Roselle. In partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation, Dollar General also provided backpacks filled with school supplies for every student in the school.
 
“We are so surprised and excited to receive this generous gift from our friends at Dollar General,” said Marianne Tankard, principal, Washington Elementary School. “It is so important that our students embrace reading at an early age and this gift will provide us with more resources to enhance our reading programs. Our students are also excited about the new backpacks. This has been a fun day for everyone and we are very grateful.”