Harrisonburg, VA – 6/16/25 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded Skyline Literacy a $10,000 grant to support adult 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.
Funds from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation will support programming for more than 250 foreign-born adults who participate in Skyline Literacy level English for Speakers of Other Languages class programs and one-on-one tutoring services. Skyline Literacy offers in-person and online ESOL classes at beginner and intermediate levels as well as citizenship preparation and digital literacy classes.
The timeline for the current project is June 25, 2025 to May 14, 2026. Skyline will begin with six sessions of in-person English conversation classes offered for the summer for students on their waiting list. For the fall, Skyline Literacy plans on strategically placing three new satellite locations in key local poultry industries and expanding to a total of eight locations hosting ESOL classes for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These partnerships will allow on-site classes during work hours or shifts, specifically designed for associates who find it challenging to attend classes in Harrisonburg, with outcomes including career stability and career advancement.
Additionally, Skyline Literacy requested proposed technology to advance the literacy program is the integration of 30 Burlington English licenses into the Intermediate and Advanced ESL classes. This platform, which can be downloaded on smartphones, will be used to enhance language skills through interactive lessons. This use of technology will provide individualized instruction and support, helping students progress more effectively in their language acquisition.
“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 here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are 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 Skyline Literacy
Skyline Literacy’s mission is to provide instruction, based on need, in various literacies, for adults in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County using trained, qualified instructors and volunteers. Skyline Literacy’s vision is a community where adults are empowered by literacy skills to be self-sufficient, navigate daily life, and participate in the workforce, education, and civic affairs.
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.