Dec 14, 2011

Eastern Michigan University Graduate Student Wins Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s ‘I Can’ Essay Contest

Andy Gowman Receives $50,000 Education Grant

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (December 14, 2011) – Eastern Michigan University graduate student Andy Gowman’s compelling essay about overcoming obstacles took the top prize in the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s ‘I Can’ essay contest. Gowman received a $50,000 education grant and trip to Nashville to receive his award.

“I could not believe that I was selected as the grand prize winner,” said Gowman. “My jaw dropped and my heart skipped a beat. This grant has made it possible for me to focus more on improving my teaching skills to benefit children and less on financial survival when graduating.”

Gowman plans to use the grant money to pay off student loans that are accumulating interest, and save the rest for future academic pursuits.

Gowman, now a 4.0 GPA student studying to become a special education teacher, once struggled with illiteracy and learning disabilities. According to Gowman’s award winning essay, he struggled to read and write as a young student. In the fifth grade, Gowman was placed in special education classes where he received personalized instruction.

“When words finally started coming together for me in the fifth grade, it was like the sun had finally risen on my horizon and lifted the darkness from my eyes,” wrote Gowman in his essay. “I commit my future career to serving students in any capacity I can so that they, too, can live in a bright and literate world, ripe with opportunity.”

Having personal experience with illiteracy has given him the unique ability to relate to students and their struggles. “When I see a child struggling with a subject, I can’t help seeing myself at their age,” said Gowman. “I remember my life when I could not read. It was a frustrating and confusing place.”

Gowman’s essay was chosen from more than 6,000 submissions in the ‘I Can’ essay contest, which was sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Sun Products and Reckitt Benckiser. Essays were judged based on their creativity, quality and relevance to the theme of pursuing education.

Supporting education and literacy has been a key initiative for Dollar General since the company was founded, and this commitment to education was the inspiration behind the ‘I Can’ essay contest.

About Dollar General
Dollar General is a leading discount retailer with more than 9,800 neighborhood stores in 38 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 $61.7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 3.7 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.

Link to published release: http://newscenter.dollargeneral.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1786

Jan 12, 2012

Dollargeneral.com Adds Photo Services to its Online Store

Customers can easily and inexpensively print photos and create photo keepsakes online

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (Date) – Dollar General is expanding its eCommerce offering with the addition of photo services to its retail site. The service is now available on www.dollargeneral.com.

“Dollar General is excited to offer our shoppers this great online service at the low prices they have come to expect from Dollar General,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief merchandising officer.

Dollar General, in conjunction with GoPhotobooks.com, offers customers a variety of ways to print and customize photos online, including:

Photo books
Custom Greeting cards
Custom calendars
Canvas printing
Video Transfer, such as from VHS to DVD

The move marks the latest expansion of services on www.dollargeneral.com, which launched eCommerce capabilities in September.

Dollar General’s web store offers a wide assortment of name brand and private label merchandise, including health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, baby items, toys, holiday merchandise, home décor, stationery, snacks and much more sold in single and case packs. Seasonal and limited time specials are also featured at value prices.

Link to published release: http://newscenter.dollargeneral.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1792

Jan 26, 2012

BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Premium Food for Dogs Now Available Exclusively at Dollar General

Premium Dog Food Combines High Quality Ingredients with a Taste Dogs Crave

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN (January 26, 2012) - Dollar General is expanding its pet food assortment with the addition of BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Premium Dog Food. Manufactured by Mars Petcare US, the new product line offers high-quality dog food at a great value. BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Brand is available exclusively at Dollar General stores.

“Dollar General is proud to add BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Premium Food for Dogs to our pet food assortment,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief merchandising officer. “Many of our customers count on Dollar General for all their pets’ needs, and we are pleased to broaden our assortment with BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Brand, which offers great quality at a great value.”

BUTCHER’S SELECTS® products bring together the taste dogs crave with the nutrition they need. With real lamb as the number one ingredient, BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Premium Dry Food for Dogs includes natural sources such as glucosamine to promote healthy joints and prebiotics to help support digestive health. Palatability tests prove the BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Lamb & Rice Recipe is preferred to Eukanuba’s own Natural Lamb & Rice Formula but at a value driven price.

The BUTCHER’S SELECTS® line of wet dog food includes a variety of Premium Cuts® in gravy and ground entrées, each nutritionally balanced and made for your dog’s health and enjoyment. Dogs love the meaty taste of Chicken and Rice Dinner, Country Stew, and Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe. BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Brand also offers a variety formulated specifically for puppies that is made with DHA to promote healthy brain development.

“Mars Petcare US is excited to partner with Dollar General to launch BUTCHER’S SELECTS® Premium Dog Food”, said Chris Hamilton, Mars Petcare US general manager. “The BUTCHER’S SELECTS® product line gives Dollar General customers another great Mars Petcare product option that offers high-quality nutrition at a value.”

About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 70 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares, pet supplies and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 9,800 stores in 38 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America's most-trusted manufacturers such as Mars, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Kellogg's, General Mills, Nabisco, Hanes, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

About Mars Petcare US
Mars Petcare US is the U.S. operations of the world’s largest petcare company at the privately-held, family-owned Mars, Incorporated. Mars Petcare US produces some of the world’s most beloved pet care brands, including PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs, CESAR® Canine Cuisine, WHISKAS® Food for Cats, THE GOODLIFE RECIPE® Brand, TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats, and CRAVE® Treats for Cats, as well as exclusive brands products for some of the leading retailers in the U.S. Headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., more than 2,400 Mars Petcare US associates make, sell and distribute its high-quality pet food from 15 manufacturing facilities located in communities across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

®/™ Trademarks © Mars, Incorporated 2012Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Link to published release: http://newscenter.dollargeneral.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1792