What Would You Do with $50,000 for Your Education?

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation, along with partners Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Unilever, Sun Products and Reckitt Benckiser, will give thousands of dollars in educational grants, including a grand prize of $50,000, to deserving students or would-be students with big dreams.

The “I Can” essay contest asks what you would do with $50,000 for your education. To enter the “I Can” essay contest, submit a 250-word essay about how you would use $50,000 to further your education. All submissions must be received by August 31, 2011.

“Education is the cornerstone of growth and prosperity in all aspects of business and life,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s director of community initiatives. “In today’s world, education can have a high price tag, but cost shouldn’t be a deterrent to pursuing one’s dreams. Through the ‘I Can’ essay contest, we want to open doors for students seeking to better themselves through education.”

Supporting education and literacy has been a key initiative for Dollar General since the company was founded. J.L. Turner, co-founder of the company, was forced to quit school at age 11 to support his family. He went on to build the company now known as Dollar General, and left a legacy of support for education. This dedication to education lives on today and was the inspiration behind the “I Can” essay contest.

“Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and Sun Products are very excited to be partnering with Dollar General again this year,” said Jennifer Carter, shopper marketing manager, Kimberly-Clark. “The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is a fantastic program, and we are happy to contribute to their efforts through programs like this back-to-school essay contest.”

The grand prize of the “I Can” essay contest is a $50,000 educational grant and a trip to Nashville to accept the prize. Additional prizes include three $25,000 educational grants, 20 $5,000 educational grants and hundreds of Dollar General gift cards.

For the “I Can” essay contest’s complete details and rules and to submit your essay, visit www.dollargeneral.com. Essay submissions are being accepted online at www.dollargeneral.com through August 31, 2011. Entrants must be 18 years old and residents of Dollar General’s 35-state market area.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Dollar General is a leading discount retailer with more than 9,500 neighborhood stores in 35 states. Dollar General stores provide convenience and value to customers by offering consumable basic items such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids and cleaning supplies, as well as basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at everyday low prices. The company has a longstanding tradition of supporting literacy and education. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $58.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 3.2 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. To learn more about Dollar General, visit www.dollargeneral.com.