Dollar General and Kathy Ireland Launch $50,000 ‘Reading Revolution’ at Andrew Jackson Elementary
Dollar General and supermodel-turned-business leader Kathy Ireland are turning the spotlight on student literacy this week with a surprise $50,000 “Reading Revolution” donation and hundreds of cozy reading-themed gifts for Andrew Jackson Elementary School in Old Hickory, Tennessee.
The initiative, highlighted today in new coverage from Drug Store News, is part of Dollar General’s long-running Reading Revolution program and its broader Here For What Matters community platform. [1]
Inside Dollar General’s $50,000 Reading Revolution Surprise
At a school event earlier this week, Dollar General presented Andrew Jackson Elementary with a $50,000 Reading Revolution grant — funds that school leaders can use flexibly to boost literacy. The money can go toward:
- New books for classroom and school libraries
- Technology and education software that supports reading
- Computers or devices for students
- Other literacy-focused supplies and resources
According to a recap of the event shared by Grocery Insight and Dollar General, the $50,000 gift is part of a decade-long national push to surprise schools with large, unrestricted literacy donations. Since Reading Revolution launched in 2013, the program has awarded more than $5 million to 137 schools and literacy-focused nonprofits across the U.S. [2]
Reading Revolution grants are typically targeted to communities within Dollar General’s store footprint and are meant to give principals and teachers local control over how best to move the needle on reading. [3]
“Today’s event and donations are about enhancing the school’s existing programs and sparking a lifelong love of reading,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, in remarks shared about the Old Hickory event. [4]
Cozy Reading Corners: Pillows, Blankets and Art Supplies
The check presentation was only part of the surprise. To make reading feel more like a treat than a task, Dollar General and Ireland’s ki by kathy ireland® home collection turned classrooms into cozy reading corners.
According to Dollar General’s recap of the day, the partners donated: [5]
- 500+ co-branded pillows and blankets from the ki by kathy ireland collection for students and staff
- More than 575 Crayola packs to fuel creative projects tied to books
- A new reading chair, donated by Ireland, designed as a centerpiece for story time
- Dollar General gift cards for teachers and staff to stock up on classroom supplies
Ireland, who also serves as Chief Creative Ambassador for Crayola, emphasized that literacy and creativity go hand in hand. On social media, she called the effort “a joy” and thanked partners including Crayola, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Rowe Furniture and Crest Mills for helping bring the reading space to life. [6]
“Reading opens doors to dreams, and dreams open doors to the future,” Ireland wrote, framing the Old Hickory project as part of a broader commitment to education in Dollar General hometown communities. [7]
How Kathy Ireland’s Home Line Ended Up in 20,000+ Dollar General Stores
The Old Hickory event also doubles as a high-profile showcase for ki by kathy ireland, the home collection Ireland launched exclusively with Dollar General earlier this year.
The line — which leans into “grandmillennial” style with textured throws, comforter sets and quilts — rolled out to more than 20,000 Dollar General stores starting in summer 2025. [8]
According to company statements, the collection is part of Dollar General’s strategy to expand its Home Valley offering with affordable, nationally recognizable brands. Items like throw blankets, sheet sets and three-piece comforter sets are priced to stay within a tight budget, while still feeling giftable and “special find” enough to support the retailer’s non-consumable “treasure hunt” strategy. [9]
By bringing Ireland’s brand into both the aisles and the classroom, Dollar General is effectively closing the loop: the same products customers see on shelves are now part of the reading corners students will use to curl up with books.
Part of a Bigger Push: Here For What Matters and Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Old Hickory initiative is just one chapter in Dollar General’s sprawling community and literacy story.
Through its Here For What Matters platform, the company highlights efforts to: [10]
- Expand access to essentials, including fresh food, in underserved communities
- Support employees with education and career development programs
- Strengthen local communities through philanthropy and partnerships
Literacy sits at the center of that third pillar. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) — a separate philanthropic arm funded by the retailer — has donated more than $275 million to literacy initiatives since its founding, supporting students of all ages in communities within roughly a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores. [11]
In August, the foundation announced more than $3.5 million in Youth Literacy Grants, funding programs that help children and teens with reading proficiency, access to books and learning technology. [12]
Earlier this year, DGLF also participated in a record-setting, single-day $13.2 million donation across adult, family and youth literacy programs nationwide — a wave of support that touched local libraries and nonprofits from Pennsylvania to the Midwest. [13]
Reading Revolution Goes National
The Andrew Jackson Elementary giveaway extends a familiar Reading Revolution pattern:
- Surprise donations of up to $50,000 to schools
- Flexible, literacy-focused funding
- A spotlight on individual communities and students
In June, Dollar General teamed up with an NFL Los Angeles Rams player to deliver a similar $50,000 Reading Revolution grant to a South Carolina school, using the Here For What Matters banner to tie sports, literacy and local impact together. [14]
That consistency matters. Each event is highly local — different town, different school, different needs — but the story is the same: large-scale corporate philanthropy dropping directly into the classrooms where reading outcomes are shaped every day.
What It Means for Families in Old Hickory
For families in Old Hickory and the greater Nashville area, the partnership means more than just a one-day surprise.
- Better-resourced classrooms: $50,000 can significantly refresh a school’s book collection and reading technology.
- More inviting spaces: Comfortable seating, blankets and pillows help transform corners of the building into true “reading zones,” especially important for reluctant readers.
- Community visibility: Having a nationally known figure like Kathy Ireland physically associated with the school and its reading efforts brings extra attention — and, potentially, future support.
While standardized test scores and reading levels will take time to reflect the impact, educators often point to engagement — how often students voluntarily pick up books — as an early sign that interventions like this are working.
The Bigger Trend: Retailers as Literacy Partners
Dollar General isn’t alone in linking retail brands with community literacy, but few efforts are as large or as long-running. With thousands of stores in rural and small-town markets, the company has a unique footprint in communities that may have limited access to big-box bookstores or large public libraries. [15]
By combining in-store exclusive brands like ki by kathy ireland with philanthropic initiatives like Reading Revolution and DGLF grants, Dollar General is creating a flywheel where:
- Customers discover celebrity-backed home products at value prices.
- Communities receive high-visibility literacy investments.
- The brand reinforces its “Here For What Matters” messaging in both marketing and measurable local impact.
For Andrew Jackson Elementary, that flywheel just delivered a reading makeover — and a substantial financial boost — heading into the heart of the school year.
What to Watch Next
As Dollar General’s fall ki by kathy ireland collection continues to roll out, retail analysts will be watching to see whether the blend of celebrity partnerships and purpose-driven campaigns translates into stronger customer loyalty and sales. [16]
For now, the clearest impact is local: hundreds of Tennessee students heading home with new books, new blankets and, if the partners get their wish, a new enthusiasm for reading.
References
1. drugstorenews.com, 2. grocery-insightmagazine.com, 3. www.wymt.com, 4. grocery-insightmagazine.com, 5. grocery-insightmagazine.com, 6. grocery-insightmagazine.com, 7. x.com, 8. grocery-insightmagazine.com, 9. www.retaildive.com, 10. www.dollargeneral.com, 11. www.dgliteracy.org, 12. www.businesswire.com, 13. travelswiththepost.com, 14. newscenter.dollargeneral.com, 15. www.the-sun.com, 16. grocery-insightmagazine.com
