Grant will provide more than 250 books to support literacy among Highlands County youth
SEBRING, Fla., September 15, 2026 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has been awarded a $3,000 Youth Literacy grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to purchase more than 250 books for children and youth in Highlands County.
The books will be incorporated into the organization’s one-to-one mentoring relationships and made available to students and families who would like additional reading materials for home. The investment will help put books directly into the hands of young people while encouraging mentors and students to make reading and literacy part of their mentoring experience.
“We are grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for investing in the power of literacy and mentoring,” said Kamala Martinez, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. “A book can open a door to a new world, build confidence, strengthen skills and create an opportunity for a child and their mentor to connect. This grant will help us make those opportunities more accessible to children and families throughout Highlands County.”
The new books will be available to mentees across Highlands County, as well as children participating in BBBS Sun Coast’s Resilient Youth and Summer Reading programs. The organization also hopes to extend the impact beyond individual mentees by making books available to siblings and other children in their households.
“Providing books that children can take home creates an impact that extends beyond the mentoring relationship,” said Priscilla Dean, Mentor Manager, BBBS of the Sun Coast Highlands County. “When a child can share a book with a sibling, parent or caregiver and add it to their home library, we’re helping create a culture of reading that can benefit the entire family.”
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and other community groups working to improve literacy and educational opportunities for individuals of all ages. The foundation’s support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast will help expand access to reading materials for youth while complementing the organization’s mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation at https://www.dgliteracy.org/.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
For more than 57 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has helped young people realize their full potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. By connecting youth with caring adult mentors, the organization empowers them to build confidence, achieve educational success, and develop the skills needed to thrive in school, work, and life. Now the 10th largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the nation, the organization continues to expand its reach and impact as one of the leading youth mentoring organizations in the country. In recognition of its continued growth and impact, the organization received the 2025 Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Learn more or get involved at bbbssun.org.
Media Contact
Vinnie Mascarenhas, VP Marketing & Communications
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
941-488-4009
vmascarenhas@bbbssun.org