Mentor Program Gets Grant

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to support youth literacy programs to Jasper County Mentor Program, Inc. in Monticello.

“Youth literacy grants from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation are awarded at the beginning of the academic year to help make a distinct impact on the communities we serve by supporting programs that improve education and enhance literacy,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO.

“At Dollar General, we are passionate about our mission of Serving Others and it’s exciting to see the real difference literacy and learning makes in people’s lives.”

Amy Wade, media specialist at both primary and elementary schools, is holding an iPad with a flash card app as well as the sign-in folder for books to be distributed to kids. The books are on the shelves behind them.

The local program provides mentored students with a book every two weeks, and mentors spend some time reading with the child. In addition, the program is able to purchase technological equipment to aid in the reading and reading comprehension process, such as an IPad.

This fall, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded more than $2.5 million in youth literacy grants to approximately 650 schools, non-profit organizations, libraries and community groups dedicated to the advancement of literacy.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education, according to the announcement of the award. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $84.9 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 4.8 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.