CEO Program receives $10,000 pledge of support
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<p class="p1">The Union County CEO Program received a huge pledge of support from local residents Gerald and Collin Cain on Monday, Jan. 19, at Grassy Lake Hunting Club near Ware. The hunting club's co-owners presented Union County CEO chairman Rollie Hawk with a check for $10,000 to invest in the program.</p><p class="p2">"This is such an unprecedented investment that we've created a new investor category for Gerald and Collin Cain: executive level investors," Hawk said.</p><p class="p2">Hawk presented Gerald Cain with a framed letter expressing his and the CEO Program board's deep appreciation for such an enormous investment in the future of Union County's students.</p><p class="p2">In the letter, Hawk shared that his "vision for Union County CEO is twofold. </p><p class="p2">"Getting across to students the ways to succeed in business, whether on the first, second or subsequent attempts, is critical to the long-term health of our county. </p><p class="p2">"That said, what I see as perhaps an even more fundamental goal is to develop the future leaders that our region needs to carry us through the twenty-first century!</p><p class="p2">"Gentlemen like yourselves who are willing to put their words, their names and their money behind something that will improve the lives of Union County students are setting an excellent example to the young people in the CEO Program and the greater community. </p><p class="p2">"Because of your investment in CEO, the futures of Anna-Jonesboro, Cobden, Dongola and Shawnee high school students just got notably brighter."</p><p class="p2">Those involved with the Union County CEO program have been working to secure support from investors at a $1,000 per year level for each of three years. </p><p class="p2">Gerald Cain has owned the Grassy Lake Hunting Club since 1967. </p><p class="p2">Collin graduated from Southern Illinois University and worked as an ag teacher. Later in life, he decided to pursue farming full time. </p><p class="p2">"When I was in high school, FFA and basketball were the only reasons why I went to school," Collin said. </p><p class="p2">Alan Eddington was an inspiration for the Cains to donate the money to the CEO Program. Eddington, of Union County, has been involved with the program from the beginning. He has worked hard to gain support for the program.</p><p class="p2">"I have no kids, but I wanted to give something back. To me, it's a small amount to give," Collin said. </p><p class="p2">The CEO Program is designed to take students out of the classroom into real businesses so they can learn how to run a business on their own. </p><p class="p2">Some of the local businesses and other entitites the students have visited this year include The Old Feed Store in Cobden, Lambdin Farms in Wolf Lake and the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.</p><p class="p2">"Our kids need something like this," Collin Cain said about the program.</p><p class="p2">The CEO Program is currently looking for a full-time teacher for next year. The program visits businesses once a month. Those involved with the program are hoping to make the program a class which meets every day.</p><p class="p2">For more information about the program or to learn how to become an investor, contact Rollie Hawk at 618-925-2470 or rhawk@unioncountyceo.com.</p>