Officials with The Dollar General Literacy Foundation today (Monday) announced the award of nearly $67,000 in literacy grants to Iowa nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools. The funds are aimed at supporting adult, family and summer literacy programs within a 20-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center across the 44 states Dollar General serves, and plan to positively impact the lives of more than 6,100 Iowans. Statewide grants are part of more than $7.5 million that the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded.

Locally: The Casey Public Library received $500; The Mount Ayr Raider Education Foundation received $1,500, and The Harlan Community Library Foundation received $1,500.

Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, said in the Press Release “Dollar General is excited to provide these organizations with funding to support literacy and education throughout the 44 states we serve.  Providing these grants and supporting the communities we call home reflects our mission of Serving Others and it’s rewarding to see the impact these funds have.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is also currently accepting applications for youth literacy grants through Thursday, May 18th, 2017. Youth literacy grants support schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations in implementing new or expanding existing literacy efforts. Funding can be used to purchase new technology, equipment, books, materials or software to enhance literacy programs. Applications are available online at www.dgliteracy.org.