Dollar General Invests in New Literacy Programs

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is aiming to make a difference in the community

The foundation is partnering with local organizations, including Zanesville City Schools and Mid-East Career and Technology Center, to bring new literacy projects to Zanesville. Dollar General’s Senior Director of Community Initiatives, Denine Torr, said these new programs will open doors to personal, professional and economic growth in the community.

“What we’re going to focus on with this literacy initiative is that we’re not only going to help adults learn to read, help them prepare for their GED, help them learn the English language if they need to, but we’re also going to serve the kids in K-12 who are below grade level, help them get on grade level with their peers,” Torr said.

The foundation has already invested more than $250,000 in the community for educational purposes. In the past two weeks, Dollar General has awarded more than $126,000 to Zanesville City Schools for new programs to help students succeed, and nearly $120,000 to The Muskingum County Library System.

“On behalf of Dollar General, and The Dollar General Literacy Foundation, it’s so exciting to be welcomed into a community like this to see the potential here, to see the growth opportunities, there is something beautiful about Zanesville, the fact that you truly want to help each other,” Torr said.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation partners with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and and ProLiteracy.