From West Hills College
West Hills District receives $8,000 grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) an $8,000 grant to support adult literacy.  This local grant is part of more than $8.6 million in grants awarded to more than 950 schools, nonprofits, and organizations across the communities Dollar General serves.

“I am proud and grateful that the West Hills Community College District High School Equivalency Program was selected for the Dollar General grant,” said Cecilio Mora, HEP/CAMP Director.  “As HEP program Director, my mission is to bring additional educational resources to the HEP adult learners in our district.  This award will assist us in reaching our goal to close the basic skills gap and provide access to technology to adult learners.”

West Hills Community College District’s High School Equivalency Program (HEP) offers a bilingual English and Spanish program to prepare the students for the High School Equivalency (HSE) Test.  The Dollar General funding will be utilized to assist adult learners in transitioning to the High School Equivalency Program by providing preliminary math, reading, and basic computer classes, and students will receive a laptop to access online the courses and resources.  The goal of the preliminary HSE Courses is to assist students in closing the basic skills gap and completing their HSE Diploma within a year. 

“During these extraordinary times, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to support communities’ literacy and educational advancements through funds that will impact thousands of students across the country,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, and Dollar General Literacy Foundation board member.  “We are proud to support the meaningful and impactful work that each of today’s recipients conducts and support their ongoing efforts to help individuals improve their lives through literacy and education.”

Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $182 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 11 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.