DGLF Celebrating 30 years in 2023

Every day around the country, literacy advocates at schools, libraries, and nonprofits are working to improve the lives of students. Thousands of programs are supporting adults and children alike, through the help of grants from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF). As the DGLF celebrates its 30th anniversary, it reflects on the positive impact it’s had on the nearly 20 million individuals helped in Dollar General’s hometowns.

“There are very few gifts that you can give that last a lifetime. The power of literacy and education can change someone’s life, career pathway, and opportunities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “The impact on the whole family is beautiful, and that’s why I love what we do. It’s so critically important that we stay focused because the need continues to be great across our country.”

Today, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. score at or below the lowest levels of literacy as outlined in the foundation’s 2022 State of American Literacy Research Report, which also highlights the profound impact the inability to read and write proficiently can have on an individual’s quality of life and a family’s future.

Adult literacy is a key focus area for the foundation, especially in its hometown near Nashville, where long-term partners YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee and the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC) work to educate and support literacy advancements for adults of all ages.

Over the past 20 years, the foundation has provided significant financial funding and encouragement to both organizations and has plans to continuously support their efforts to improve the city’s adult literacy levels. Currently, one in five Nashville adults scores at the lowest levels of literacy, according to the NALC.

“We have adults in our community who are not able to really live fulfilling lives because they don’t have basic literacy skills,” says Sharon Roberson, CEO and president of YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee. “If you cannot read and write in our society, often you feel like you can’t participate fully in the process.”

In the video above, hear how the DGLF is making an impact, celebrating three decades of service, and shining a light on literacy across the country and in its hometown, where local partnerships are opening doors to education and more meaningful life experiences.