The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 in honor of Dollar General’s co-founder, J.L. Turner, a farmer’s son who dropped out of school when his father was killed in an accident and was functionally illiterate. But with hard work and determination, he began what is now a hugely successful company.

The foundation currently is accepting applications for its Youth Literacy Grants program. Through the program, grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in support of programs that help students who are reading below grade level or are experiencing difficulty reading, including those with individualized education plans (IEPs).

The program supports the implementation of new or the expansion of existing literacy programs; the purchase of new technology or equipment; and/or the purchase of books, materials, or software for literacy programs.

For complete program guidelines, a list of previous grant recipients, and application instructions, see the Dollar General Literacy Foundation website.