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Schools, libraries and nonprofits across Alabama were awarded $100,000 in literacy grants from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation on Monday.

Of the 35 entities across the state to receive funds from the foundation, two Selma organizations were each awarded $3,000: Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School and Whole Child Community Center.

Dollar General CEO and Literacy Foundation Board Member Todd Vasos said these grants would be particularly helpful in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought numerous challenges to educators across Alabama.

“This year, many teachers, libraries and literacy organizations are facing new challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Vasos. “Despite the unprecedented obstacles, we admire the tremendous efforts and commitments from educators as they work to provide students with the tools they need to develop their literacy skills. We hope these funds will help support their plans to advance learning and deliver quality instruction in our hometown communities.”

Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams said the literacy grant would provide a “big lift” toward literacy among Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School students.

“We want to continue to promote reading at Sophia P. Kingston and at all of our elementary schools, ensuring all of our scholars are reading at grade level,” she said.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was created to honor Dollar General co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was functionally illiterate and never completed a formal education.

Over the past the past 27 years, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $186 million in grants to schools, libraries and organizations to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy.