From the day ground was broken for its distribution warehouse, Dollar General has been at the forefront of promoting literacy in Union County.

In June of 1994, Dollar General chairman and CEO David Perdue and Jim Gray of Gray Construction gave $10,000 to Union County Adult Education’s literacy program.

During the next three years, the company donated 20,000 books to Union County’s elementary schools through the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) organization. Three times a year, students select a book they want and take it home with them.

Last week, Dollar General’s Literacy Foundation became the Union County Carnegie Library’s first Literacy Initiative Partner with a $5,000 donation. The partnership, launched by the library’s board of trustees, will help offset dramatic state budget cuts and provide funds to for the library to purchase much-needed materials and children’s programming.

Time and time again, Dollar General has demonstrated its commitment to literacy, not only in Union County, but across the country. The company has set an example of community involvement that others should strive to match.