20 Years of Literacy Impact with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

For more than two decades, RIF and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation have shared a steadfast commitment to empowering children through the joy of reading. Together, we’ve reached countless young readers, expanded access to books and literacy resources, and sparked a lifelong love of learning in communities nationwide. In this special Q&A, our CEO, Alicia Levi, sits down with Denine Torr, Executive Director of the Foundation, to reflect on the impact we’ve made and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Alicia (RIF): Can you please share with our audience the mission of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and how it aligns with RIF's goals to support children's literacy nationwide?

Denine (DGLF): With the belief everyone deserves access to a quality education, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation(DGLF) was founded in 1993 by Dollar General’s former CEO, Cal Turner, Jr. in honor of his grandfather and DG co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was functionally illiterate. For 32+ years, the Foundation’s adult, youth, family and summer reading literacy grant programs have supported more than 25,000 public libraries, schools and non-profit organizations across DG’s 20,000+ hometown communities across the U.S. 

To further extend our impact, DGLF partnered with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) in 2004 to address the lack of literacy resources in rural and often underserved areas throughout the U.S. Through our shared missions, the DGLF and RIF provide vital literacy access and educational opportunities through increasing access to books, empowering teachers, engaging families and supporting initiatives to steer meaningful change to communities in need. 

Alicia (RIF): As educators and families face challenges in ensuring students have access to quality literacy resources, how does the Dollar General Literacy Foundation specifically support RIF's efforts to support educators and families?

Denine (DGLF): Leveraging the Company’s unique and vast footprint and the shared mission of creating more access to books, DGLF committed to an initial 3-year pledge in 2004 to support 49 RIF public schools, serving ~20,000 children. More than 20 years later, the partnership has grown and evolved, demonstrating success through book distributions, library rebuilds, and funding of critical literacy resources and online platforms, in both English and Spanish. RIF’s Books for Ownership (BFO) program has expanded to support 76 elementary schools across 18 states in DG communities. Through the partnership, DG employees are also encouraged to give their time to their local BFO partner schools by helping with classroom read-alouds and book distributions.

To date, the partnership has helped to increase access by supporting approximately 930,000 students through the distribution of more than 2.3 million books and literacy resources in Dollar General communities.

Alicia (RIF): We are excited to celebrate 20 years of partnership and would love to highlight some of the incredible work we've accomplished thus far. What do you believe has been our partnership’s most significant milestone(s) that has had the biggest impact towards improving children's literacy?

Denine (DGLF): Since 2004, DGLF's partnership with RIF has empowered thousands of children across the country to read, learn and grow.

Below are some of our favorite initiatives that have created lasting impact:

• Most recently, in April 2025, DGLF and RIF celebrated 20 years of partnership during National Library Week by surprising three elementary schools in Alachua, Florida, with $60,000 in DGLF literacy grants, nearly 4,500 new books were given to more than 1,300 students and a book donation was provided to each school library. W.W. Irby Elementary School, High Springs Community School and Alachua Elementary School were chosen to honor their partnership with RIF’s BFO program since its inception.
• In 2022, in response to devastating rural Kentucky flooding, DGLF and RIF partnered to rebuild a school library in Hindman. The event included 2,500+ new books and furniture, collaborating with a local artist to design a mural for the school, supplying teachers and staff with DG gift cards for supplies, as well as a $50,000 Dollar GeneralReading Revolution donation to support the school’s library and literacy programs. 
• In 2017, DGLF and RIF collaborated to develop RIF’s Literacy Central Mobile App, which included innovative digital literacy tools. The app allows users to quickly scan a book’s barcode and access free digital resources directly tied to books children love and educators turn to everyday. Through this initiative, 500 new book titles and 2,000 new literacy materials were added to RIF’s Literacy Central as resources for educators and families when the app was launched. Today, 10,000+ literary resources are on the app.
• In 2008, DGLF supported RIF’s Spanish language literacy resources, partnering with 11 schools in New Mexico to create free lending libraries for each school’s Spanish-speaking community. Additionally, the organizations rolled out thematic digital reading toolkits monthly, in both English and Spanish, supporting families and educators across the nation through online activities at home and in the classroom.

Alicia (RIF): At RIF, we're dedicated to addressing the literacy crisis and promoting solutions that lay the foundations for a nation of lifelong readers. Looking ahead, what impact do you envision our partnership will have on literacy outcomes in the future?

Denine (DGLF): Recognizing the ongoing need for accessible educational materials and resources is a long-termchallenge, and DGLF’s shared commitment with RIF to support literacy and education programs remains strong and continues to grow alongside awareness and impact.

Not only are DGLF and RIF expanding awareness at a national level, but the partnership also seeks to create a lasting effect in rural, grassroots programs. Giving children choice and access to new, age-appropriate books to own or read in the classroom is positively tied to reading behaviors including motivation, frequency and engagement, which has led to enhanced reading and writing performance, language development and academic outcomes. 

Alicia (RIF): For my last question, I’d like to get a little bit reflective and personal. Can you share some of the ways that reading has shaped your life, and what your favorite book was as a child?

Denine (DGLF): Personally, reading has been the constant in my life that has expanded my knowledge, widened my perspective and enhanced my creativity. Whether I am reading for pleasure, learning new ways to be a better leader or communicator, or making lasting memories with my children, reading truly is, as I like to say, the gift that lasts a lifetime. 

Regarding my favorite book, well that’s hard to choose. When I was young, I loved the sing-song and whimsical nature of Dr. Seuss. Books by authors Judy Blume and Beverly Clearly were always a hit. Today, I enjoy reading a fabulous biography or books on historical events, but I also enjoy historical fiction, a good mystery and an occasional romance novel. Bottom line, I just love books and the power of words to educate, inspire and entertain. 

In my career at Dollar General, I’ve experienced several moments where the power of literacy made a profound impact on my personal and professional life. The numerous stories of hard work, determination and triumph from students who have improved their reading skills or from their parents who see a change in their child’s confidence and the opportunities presented to them continue to inspire me. Together, with the work of our Foundation, great partners like Reading Is Fundamental and amazing teachers, tutors and mentors, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of others. For that, I am very grateful. 

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Denine Torr is Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy and executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Torr leads strategic development and execution of national, regional and local philanthropic-related programs and initiatives for Dollar General’s 20,000+ store communities, distribution centers and corporate headquarters. In addition to her philanthropic responsibilities, she also leads Dollar General’s social responsibility activities and initiatives, as well as the company’s environmental, social and governance report on sustainability and other related disclosures. 

Denine brings more than 25 years of Dollar General and corporate philanthropy experience to the position. She currently serves as chairperson of the board for Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation and on the board of directors for the American Indian College Fund and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.