The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee a $10,000 grant to support its adult digital literacy programs.

This local 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. With the recent grants, the DGLF also surpasses helping more than 20 million individuals achieve their educational dreams since its inception in 1993.

“Each year, more than 1,300 people in Middle and West Tennessee gain the digital skills necessary to find employment in today’s job market through education and training programs offered at Goodwill’s 13 Career Solutions Centers,” said Cindy Varner, Goodwill’s Chief Mission Officer. “These services are offered free to the public, thanks to the generous support of partners such as Dollar General as well as Goodwill’s donors and shoppers.”

Goodwill’s free programs include one- to two-hour Basic Computer and Employability Skills classes in which people can learn fundamental digital skills, such as using a mouse, navigating an Internet browser, completing online job applications and creating electronic resumes. Clients with basic digital proficiency can enroll in Goodwill’s two-day Office Productivity classes, where they learn to use Microsoft Office and Google suites, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail, Google Docs and Google Sheets. Goodwill also offers a suite of certified Information Technology courses, including IT Support, IT Python, UX Design, Project Management, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, Data Analytics, Advanced Data Analytics, Cyber Security, Business Intelligence and Social Media Marketing, which take an average of 16 weeks to complete.

“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,” shared 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 here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.