Dollar General Is Proud To Honor Sterling Wilder (Photo: Business Wire)

Dollar General (NYSE: DG) is launching Honoring Our Every Day Heroes, a year-long program to honor the heroes among us – from firefighters and veterans to teachers and caregivers.

Sterling Wilder founded Jubilee center to provide a structured haven away from drugs and violence (Photo: Business Wire)

“Dollar General is pleased to launch the Honoring Our Every Day Heroes program to recognize our customers - the everyday heroes who are making a difference,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief merchandising officer. “Through this program, we will celebrate heroes who make our communities a great place to live and work, while encouraging others to honor the heroes in their own lives.”

Throughout 2012, Dollar General, along with its vendor partners, will celebrate and recognize its customers through the Honoring Our Every Day Heroes program.

Sterling Wilder of Lynchburg, Va., is being recognized as an “Every Day Hero” by Dollar General, and its vendor partners Coca-Cola ^®, Kraft ^® Foods and Procter & Gamble ^®. Wilder is committed to making a difference in his community through his work with the Jubilee Family Development Center.

Wilder started the Jubilee center to provide children and their families in Lynchburg with a structured haven away from drugs and violence. The Jubilee center provides youth and family-development services, including: after-school tutoring, computer training, cultural activities, mentoring, community service activities, and access to health screening.

"So many times our children have low self-esteem,” Wilder says. “They might think, 'I can't do anything. I can't be anybody.' But once you get that talent motivated, and spark that interest in children, then they'll be focused. All the kids are special."