The Allen County Adult Education program has received a $10,000 Dollar
General Literacy Foundation grant to support Adult Literacy, GED Testing and
ESL Services. According to a press release from Dollar General, the grant is
part of more than $8.3 million in grants awarded to more than 1,000 schools, libraries,
and schools across the states that Dollar General serves.
“In keeping with Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others, we are excited to provide grants to support literacy and education initiatives in the communities we proudly call home,” noted Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO and Dollar General Literacy Foundation board member in a press release from Dollar General. “Each year, funds provided by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation make a real difference by providing the tools that students, adults and families need to pursue new opportunities and accomplish their goals. We believe these programs empower the communities we serve, and we are honored to play a role in their success.”
Grant
recipients plan to use awarded funds to promote literacy and learning across a
variety of programs including helping adults learn to read and prepare for the
high school equivalency exam and helping individuals to learn English.
“Education has the ability to level the playing fields in life,” added Denine Torr, Dollar General’s senior director of Community Initiatives. “Through these grants, we are helping expand access to educational programs and enhancing literacy instruction for adults, families and youth. We are excited to invest in programs across our hometown communities that are uplifting and empowering others to have a brighter future.”
The local grant will be used by Allen County Adult Education to continue
to provide GED pre-tests and tests free.
“Twenty-five percent of Allen County’s population, approximately 4,500 people, do not have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential,” noted Allen County Adult Education Director, David Burch. “The best employment and educational opportunities in our Southcentral Kentucky area are available to those persons with a high school credential. The Dollar General Literacy Grant will benefit our community in that it provides an opportunity for anyone seeking a GED to take the test for free. This grant eliminates the number one barrier for those desiring a GED---the cost of the test to the student. In addition, the Dollar General Literacy Grant provides an opportunity for our non-English speaking and migrant population to learn and/or improve their English-speaking skills through our ESL program.”
Allen County Adult Education’s Mission is to prepare adult students to succeed in a global cultural and economy by providing students the educational opportunities to achieve their goals. For more information on obtaining a GED through Adult Education, call 270-237-4492.