Dollar General and Dollar General Literacy Foundation Recognize Save the Children with Because Kindness Matters Award
Tue, 26 Sep 2023
Foundation provides $1.7 million to extend partnership with child-focused nonprofit working to increase access to quality education for underserved youth
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Today, Dollar General (NYSE: DG) is proud to award Save the Children with the Company’s Because Kindness Matters Award and announces a $1.7 million grant to the global humanitarian organization from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to help ensure children in rural America have increased access to quality education and nutritious foods. The award was featured in Reader’s Digest’s October issue and was created in partnership with the media brand to honor a nonprofit making an impact on the major retailer’s hometowns.
Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and the executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, presents the 2023 Because Kindness Award to Betsy Zorio, Save the Children’s Vice President of U.S. Programs. (Photo: Business Wire)
“Save the Children has a long legacy extending over 100 years of helping children in need in our hometown communities and around the world,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy and executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are honored to present them with the Because Kindness Matters Award for their shared commitment to advancing literacy, addressing hunger and extending hope through compassion and kindness.”
Since 2020, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has provided Save the Children with more than $5 million to address critical literacy needs in rural and underserved communities, including training and technical assistance for teachers, support of the Rural Library Network, and helping ensure children have access to educational materials and nutritious foods.
“Save the Children is grateful for this recognition and for Dollar General’s tremendous support, which is creating lasting change in the lives of children and families we work with in rural America,” said Betsy Zorio, Vice President of U.S. Programs at Save the Children. “We look forward to collaborating for years to come to give children in rural America a healthy, strong foundation to thrive as learners and in life."
The Because Kindness Matters Award complements the company’s DG Kindness awards, which highlight employees’ positive impacts across the country through DG’s mission of Serving Others. The award is also part of a Because Kindness Matters partnership with Reader’s Digest, which features Dollar General employees including Johanna Sampson and Joi Bass. Sampson is a DG warehouse supervisor in Ardmore, Oklahoma who volunteers at The Landing Bridge, a nonprofit dedicated to serving at-risk youth in her community. Bass serves as DG’s director of diversity and inclusion and created a community service initiative providing feminine hygiene products for middle and high school students in need.
About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) is proud to serve as America’s neighborhood general store. Founded in 1939, Dollar General lives its mission of Serving Others every day by providing access to affordable products and services for its customers, career opportunities for its employees, and literacy and education support for its hometown communities. As of August 4, 2023, the company’s 19,488 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and pOpshelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico provide everyday essentials including food, health and wellness products, cleaning and laundry supplies, self-care and beauty items, and seasonal décor from our high-quality private brands alongside many of the world’s most trusted brands such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, General Mills, Hershey, J.M. Smucker, Kraft, Mars, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Learn more at DollarGeneral.com.
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 $238 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 19.6 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.
About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children—every day and in times of crisis – transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity rating reaffirm that Save the Children is a charity you can trust.
