Pictured (from left): Fredia Thomas, NTCC Director of Adult Education; Carol Vandiver, Adult Education Instructional Coordinator; Maria Gomez, Adult Education Assistant; Sally Knight, TEAMS Data Coordinator; and Billi Jo Thomas, Associate Dean of Outreach Services.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded Northeast Texas Community College Adult Education and Literacy Program (NTCC AEL) a $10,000 grant to support adult literacy. The funds are a part of a record-setting, one-day donation in the Foundation’s history of more than $13.2 million to support adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates.
“NTCC AEL is honored to be a funding recipient of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant,” shared Fredia Thomas, NTCC Director of Adult Education. “This grant award will assist in enhancing our General Educational Development (GED) program through a fast-track model entitled GED N.O.W. (Navigating Opportunities to Work). This project will provide robust instructional support to help students navigate opportunities that lead to increased GED credential and access to higher education and employment. NTCC AEL is excited to provide this opportunity to our students and look forward to creating a positive impact that leads to a successful pathway to college and/or employment. We appreciate Dollar General for their commitment to literacy and for advocating community empowerment and success.”
“For over 30 years, the Foundation has been investing in literacy and basic education programs in our hometown communities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Today’s grant announcement is a celebration of our unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. We are grateful to all the grant recipients for their commitment to advancing education and helping students thrive.”
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.
The Foundation also plans to launch its sixth annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 21, 2025, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.
About Northeast Texas Community College Adult Education and Literacy
The Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Program at Northeast Texas Community College is a grant-based program funded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). AEL services include Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Educational Development (GED) and English as a Second Language (ESL) preparation. Classes are offered through face-to-face and/or online instruction and at no cost to students. Other specialized classes offered include Career Pathways, Digital Literacy, College Preparation, Citizenship, etc. To learn more about our AEL program and services or to connect with us, visit www.ntcc.edu/adulted.
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 $271 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 23 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.
