Alexandria, Va – September 20, 2018 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Community Lodgings a $3,000 grant to support youth literacy. This grant is part of more than $3.4 million the foundation awarded to 915 recipients on August 28, 2018. Awarded annually at the beginning of the academic school year inception, youth literacy grants help support teachers, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the 44 states that Dollar General serves.
“Our youth education programs are the cornerstone of our organization because children can shift the trajectory of their circumstances if they are given the proper tools. All of our families are low-income and we believe that education is the first step to rising above poverty. The funds from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation will assist us in building the future of children who are currently homelessness,” said Lynn Thomas, Executive Director, Community Lodgings.
Students use Reading A to Z (Raz Kids), a literacy based reading program for Alexandria City Public Schools. This interactive program creates consistency between the school system and after-school program that allows our program staff to keep track of students through quarterly assessments.
Our after-school program prioritizes homework and provides individual support to students. The Technology Enhanced Literacy Program helps with reading, homework, tutoring, English language instruction and enrichment activities through Raz kids and other online platforms. The students receive homework electronically and unfortunately, some do not have access to computers. The funds from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation will give students access to chromebooks to complete their homework and resources that are unavailable at their homes.
“The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to be an ardent supporter of schools, libraries and nonprofit literacy organizations,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer. “Dollar General’s mission is Serving Others, and this commitment comes to life through Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants that will impact thousands of students across the country. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has partnered with thousands of organizations focused on advancing the goals of literacy and education.”
To date, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $159 million in grants to schools, libraries and literacy organizations as part of its commitment to increase literacy skills for individuals of all ages.
Dollar General’s co-founder, J.L. Turner, was functionally illiterate and never completed a formal education. In 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in his honor and has since helped more than 10 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation also supports customers interested in learning how to read, speak English or prepare for the high school equivalency test. Customers may receive a referral to a local organization that offers free literacy services by clicking here or by picking up a brochure with a postage-paid reply card available at the cash register of every Dollar General store, which can be mailed in for information.
About Community Lodgings
Celebrating 30 years of impact in the local community, Community Lodgings lifts families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through its affordable housing and transitional housing options, as well as community outreach and youth education programs. To learn more about Community Lodgings, please visit communitylodgings.org and connect with us on social media at on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $159 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 10 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, visit www.dgliteracy.org.
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