Florence One Adult Education Receives $10,000 Grant to Support Family Literacy

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded Florence One Adult Education a $10,000 grant to support family literacy. The funds are a part of a record-setting, one-day donation in the Foundation’s history of more than $13.2 million to support adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates.

“We are delighted to partner with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to engage our students who are also parents or caregivers of young children in our Building Family Literacy through Career Pathways initiative,” said Dr. Lisa Justice, Director of Florence One Adult Education. “If you ever wonder about that extra $1 or $2 they ask you about in the store check-out line, well, it helps our community right here in Florence.”  

According to Justice, funds will be used to provide instruction and innovative technology support for adult learners who are seeking a high school diploma or GED as well as career-readiness credentials, integrated education and training, and other workforce development activities. Participants will also receive positive parenting training and developmentally appropriate learning activities for their children. 

“One of our goals is to foster a love of learning and literacy within families, but we must balance that with helping our students find meaningful career opportunities to provide for them,” Justice said. “These funds will help us do just that.”

“For over 30 years, the Foundation has been investing in literacy and basic education programs in our hometown communities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Today’s grant announcement is a celebration of our unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. We are grateful to all the grant recipients for their commitment to advancing education and helping students thrive.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, DGLF awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam.  Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

The Foundation also plans to launch its sixth annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 21, 2025, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.

About Florence One Adult Education
Florence One Adult Education is a leader in providing adult learning opportunities to Florence, surrounding communities, and the Pee Dee region. Programs offered include secondary diploma (GED or HSD); career readiness, soft skills, or digital literacy credentials; career pathways with integrated education and training; workplace literacy; English Language Learning; testing and assessment services for Pearson-Vue, PSI, FAA, ETS Praxis and Parapro. To learn more about Florence One Adult Education, visit f1adulted.f1s.org.

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 $271 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 23 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.