STATEWIDE (WISH)– The Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced Thursday that it has awarded youth literacy grants to 31 organizations across Indiana.
The grants are part of more than $4.1 million the foundation recently awarded nationwide. The money can be used for a variety of educational needs, including professional development as well as books, technology, equipment and other materials designed to support K-12 students.
In Indiana, the grants are expected to reach more than 16,500 people.
The funding is going to communities across the state, from northern Indiana to southern Indiana and from the Lafayette area to communities in and around Indianapolis.
Among the largest Indiana grants are $5,000 awards going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, Nicholson Elementary School in Crawfordsville, the Northeast School Corporation in Farmersburg, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington County, Youth Link Southern Indiana in Jeffersonville, the Hanna Community Center in Lafayette, Clinton Central Education Foundation in Michigantown, Greater Clark County Schools’ New Washington Middle/High School, Roachdale Elementary and several other organizations.
Other recipients include schools and community organizations in Albion, Anderson, Cambridge City, Charlestown, Elkhart, Frankfort, Kendallville, Logansport, Muncie, North Vernon, Peru, Richmond, Rockport, Straughn, Versailles, Westville, Winslow and Yorktown.
The grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Charlestown Elementary School received $1,000, while Tyson Library Association in Versailles received $2,000. Jennings County High School in North Vernon received $2,500, and Tri Junior Senior High School in Straughn received $2,652.
In a statement, Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, said access to books, technology and educational resources can give students tools that support their learning for years to come.
The foundation says its goal is to strengthen literacy programs and provide schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations with resources they can use to help young people succeed academically.
The grants are also designed to support organizations located near Dollar General communities. For the foundation’s 2027 grant cycle, schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store or distribution center will be eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2027 youth, family, summer and adult literacy grants are expected to become available in January.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation also recently wrapped up its seventh annual Yellow Glasses Project, another initiative focused on raising awareness and funding for literacy.
This year’s campaign included a partnership with iHeartRadio personality Bobby Bones, host of the nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show. According to the foundation, the Yellow Glasses Project has raised more than $9 million since 2020 to benefit the foundation and the literacy programs it supports.
For the Indiana schools and organizations receiving funding this year, the grants provide additional resources that can be put directly toward literacy efforts – whether that means adding books to a classroom or library, purchasing technology or equipment, or giving educators additional professional-development opportunities.
A complete list of the Indiana recipients and information about future grant opportunities is available through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
