Sumter Adult Ed receives $10K grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation

A $10,000 grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded to Sumter Adult Education will be utilized to address digital literacy deficiencies throughout Sumter, according to a news release from Sumter School District. The grant is a part of the foundation's more than $10.6 million donated to support adult, family and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates.

"Our literacy program at Sumter Adult Education is designed to provide personalized and accessible learning opportunities for adults in our community. From basic literacy skills to GED preparation and beyond, we strive to meet the diverse needs of our community. The generous support from the DGLF will enable us to expand our reach, enhance our resources and make a meaningful impact on the lives of adult learners in Sumter County," said Director of Sumter Adult Literacy Vanessa Smith-Canty.

According to the release, Sumter Adult Education served more than 350 adults and provided more than 24,000 hours of direct instruction to students this academic year.

"We believe individuals of all ages deserve access to a quality education, and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is thrilled to support thousands of learners across the country as they enrich their lives with literacy and education," said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. "This year's spring grant cycle is equally exciting as we surpass impacting more than 20 million individuals. We hope these funds provide resources needed to positively change students' lives, helping them to build a brighter future for themselves and generations to come."

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 at www.dgliteracy.org/program-locator/ or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.