Dollar General Literacy Foundation renews commitment to The American Dream Starts @ your library®

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With assistance of a $327,512 grant awarded from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to the American Library Association, libraries are now eligible to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to support programs aimed at enhancing adult literacy through The American Dream Starts @ your library® initiative. 

The American Dream Starts @ your library® is administered through the American Library Association Office for Literacy and Outreach Services and has provided funding to over 100 libraries across the United States since 2008. Public libraries interested in improving services to English language learners through holding classes, tutor training, expanding collections, purchasing technology or improving public awareness are invited to apply. These grants mark the fourth round of grants made possible through funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant institution must be a public library, or a public library with a bookmobile providing literacy services for adult English language learners, and must be within 20 miles of a Dollar General store, distribution center or corporate office. Each funded library will receive a one-time grant ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Libraries from previous rounds of the project are eligible to apply for an additional year of funding with a limit of two consecutive years of funding. Once a library receives two consecutive years of funding, the library may apply again after a one-year hiatus.

Applications for funding are being accepted online through October 1, 2014. Selected applicants will be notified in early November 2014. To learn more about the American Dream Starts @ your library® and/or apply, please visit www.ala.org/americandream . 

About the ALA

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 57,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

About Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 in honor of Dollar General's co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was functionally illiterate with only a third grade education. He was a farmer's son who dropped out of school when his father was killed in an accident. With determination and hard work, he began what has now become a successful company. We understand sometimes life circumstances prevent individuals from learning to read or graduating from high school, but it's never too late to learn. Through funding initiatives, we are committed to helping individuals of all ages learn to read, prepare for their high school equivalency or learn English. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, please visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About Dollar General Stores

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 11,500 stores in 40 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America's most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg's, General Mills, and PepsiCo. For more information on Dollar General, please visit www.dollargeneral.com.

To learn more about The American Dream Starts @ your library or speak with an ALA spokesperson, contact John Amundsen, Program Officer, Office for Literacy and Outreach Services. 312-280-2140, or email [email protected].

SOURCE American Library Association