Every year, Dollar General hosts a multi-day leadership conference. This year in Nashville, TN, the conference opened with more than just speeches—it began with impact, inspiration, and community service.
Our organization was honored to lead an employee engagement activity that brought together 250 passionate volunteers. In just a few hours, they packed 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and two of our signature UTR books. These backpacks are now headed to families nationwide, reaching locations like Hurlburt AFB, Duke AFB, and ASYMCA Missouri. Volunteers also stickered 2,000 fall-themed books, which will be distributed later this season.
One of the event’s most moving moments came when Elizabeth, a buyer from Pepsi, shared her personal connection to our program. Years ago, while her spouse was deployed in Bosnia, she turned to our program—then still on VHS—to stay connected with family. She never forgot its impact and vowed to pay it forward. This year, she did just that.
Alongside her, Erin Crew and her two sons took the stage to tell their ongoing UTR story. Erin continues to use our program today, and her video message touched hearts throughout the room. Though her husband couldn’t attend due to military duty, his presence and the family’s experience resonated deeply with all.
Then came an unforgettable surprise: the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and PepsiCo presented a $150,000 check to support our mission. The experience marked a vibrant and emotional kickoff to the conference. This wasn’t just the start of an event—it was a celebration of shared purpose, corporate generosity in action, and the power of stories to connect and inspire.