Adult Ed awarded $8K grant from Dollar General foundation

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Clarendon County Adult Education was the recipient last week of one of six grants presented to South Carolina literacy programs by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Adult Ed received $8,000 to support adult literacy and the new career pathways initiative, part of more than $7.1 million in grants awarded nationwide to more than 900 schools.

“We are very excited to partner with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support our students at Adult Education and the community of Clarendon County,” said Clarendon County Adult Education Director Lisa Justice. “If you ever wonder about that extra $1 or $5 they ask you about at check out, well, it stays here locally.”

According to Justice, funds will be used to provide instruction for students working toward a high school or career- readiness credential.

“This summer, we will begin implementation of new federal legislation, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), that requires adult education to provide both academic and career guidance for our students,” she said. “We will be connecting with many local agencies and service providers to establish clear goals and career pathways for enrollees in our program. We are happy that we can work with the folks at Dollar General to make a difference in the future in our community.”

Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said the grants are “consistent with our mission of serving others.”

“We are excited to provide these organizations with funding to further literacy and education across the communities we call home,” he said. “It is always so exciting to see the true and meaningful impact the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has on both children and adults looking to improve their lives through literacy.”

Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $120 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 7.3 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.

Clarendon County Adult Education recently celebrated the graduation of 32 students from its three sites in Clarendon County. The program will operate with a full schedule of day and evening classes beginning in late August. Summer classes will meet during the day only, starting June 13 at F.E. Dubose Career Center in Manning. Please contact Justice at (803) 473-2531 for more information.