Families United Training Center in Brookhaven has received a $3,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. DGLF announced Thursday the award of $70,000 in grants to Mississippi non-profit organizations, libraries and schools.

The funds are more than $3 million recently awarded across the country and aim to narrow the gap between learners’ needs and programs’ financial resources by providing books, technology, equipment or materials to youth education programs.

“Our focus this year is on literacy and leadership, because literacy is the foundation of all learning,” said Families United founder and executive director Falana McDaniel. “Our goal is to improve the educational outcome of the children through this project.”

Mississippi recipients are below, and a comprehensive list of grant recipients may be found online at www.dgliteracy.org. The Mississippi grants are expected to positively impact the lives of approximately 5,200 individuals in the state.

“The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s work to help individuals pursue their dreams and educational goals stands at the forefront of the Foundation’s philanthropic passions, and we are proud to extend our ongoing commitment to support youth education through today’s grant announcement,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer and DGLF chairman. “We understand the challenges educators and literacy programs may face and are proud to invest in local literacy and education initiatives to further demonstrate our mission of Serving Others.”

These grants aim to support schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center in implementing new literacy initiatives or expanding existing ones.

“During this back-to-school season, we are grateful for all of the educators, school officials, librarians, non-profit partners and volunteers who are working hard to help students excel and creating brighter futures for this generation of learners,” said Denine Torr, DGLF’s executive director.

Mississippi recipients also include For the Good of the Neighborhood, in Natchez; Hazlehurst Middle School; and 21 other organizations across the state.