OCTC Foundation Inc. Receives $7,000 Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to Support Adult Literacy
Owensboro, KY (05/27/2026) — The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded the Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) Foundation a $7,000 grant to support adult literacy. The funds contribute to a recordsetting, singleday total of nearly $16 million in grants nationwide-supporting adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states where Dollar General operates. The milestone surpasses the Foundation's previous record of more than $13.2 million granted in May 2025.
"Receiving support through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation allows us to continue expanding educational opportunities and strengthening literacy skills within our community," said Lindsey Kafer, Director of the Adult Education programs at Owensboro Community & Technical College. "We are grateful for this investment and the positive impact it will have on the students and individuals we serve."
OCTC is the regional provider of Adult Education serving adults (ages 18+) in Daviess, Hancock, McLean, and Ohio Counties with instruction in basic academic and workplace skills to prepare for the GED, college, and careers. In addition to GED preparation, the department can help prepare for and increase Work Keys scores and testing, and teach English as a Second Language and Citizenship preparation classes.
"Since the Foundation's inception in 1993, our focus has remained on making meaningful investments in students, teachers, and the organizations that support literacy and learning at every stage of life," said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. "We are grateful for the impact teachers and educators make every day and are excited to have another record-setting year of helping expand literacy access for learners of all ages. These funds will help educators enhance their instruction and create opportunities that help empower students to reach their full potential."
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 plans to launch its seventh annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 20, 2026, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.
For more information please call 270.686.3781 or email, Lindsey.kafer@kctcs.edu
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 $292 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 25 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.
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Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.
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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.
Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | X @OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC
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Bernie Hale (270) 686-4506, Bernie.hale@kctcs.eduShare this Story
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