The Van Buren Intermediate School District (VBISD) Adult Education program has received a $10,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) to support adult literacy and English language education programs throughout Van Buren County.
The grant is part of a record-setting, single-day investment of nearly $16 million in literacy grants nationwide from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The funding supports adult, family, and summer literacy programs across the 48 states where Dollar General operates and surpasses the Foundation’s previous single-day grant record of more than $13.2 million, awarded in May 2025.
The VBISD Adult Multilingual Education program provides free educational opportunities to adults throughout Van Buren County who are working to improve their English language and literacy skills, pursue educational goals, and strengthen their connections to their communities.
“Our VBISD Adult Multilingual Education program provides free educational opportunities to adults throughout Van Buren County who are working to improve their English language and literacy skills, pursue educational goals, and strengthen their connections to their communities,” said Amy Engbers, Adult Multilingual Education Coordinator
“Our program serves learners at a variety of English proficiency levels and supports adults as they work toward greater autonomy, employment opportunities, and continued education.”
The $10,000 grant will help VBISD acquire valuable technology to enhance classroom instruction and learning experiences for adult learners across the county.
“We are grateful to have our program recognized through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant,” Engbers said. “These funds will provide valuable technology to enhance our classrooms and learning experiences for adult learners across Van Buren County.”
The investment will help address barriers faced by local adult learners and provide them with skills and confidence to communicate effectively, support their families, pursue employment opportunities, and actively participate in their communities.
“By investing in adult literacy and English language education, the grant will help remove barriers for local adults and provide them with the skills and confidence they need to communicate, support their families, pursue employment, and actively participate in their communities,” Engbers said. “The impact of this funding will extend beyond our classrooms; it will strengthen individuals, families, and the Van Buren County community.”
“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, encourage innovation in the delivery of instruction, and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries located within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs.