Select Energy gift continues funding for Du Quoin summer pool passes
In the cold grip of winter, thoughts in Du Quoin are already turning to warm summer days at the Du Quoin Municipal Pool. Select Energy Partners, the electricity aggregation consultant for the City of Du Quoin, has donated $500 to Champion Community Investments (CCI) to continue a swimming program for children of low-income families. The funding will help to provide free swimming lessons, water safety instruction, and pool passes for approximately 10 children. The contribution will be coordinated with the Du Quoin Park Board and the City of Du Quoin to ensure that every penny helps a child.
The program, called Project Adjutor after the patron saint of swimmers, has provided swimming and water safety instruction for over 70 young people since it began. It was started in 2007 as a result of a partnership between Sacred Heart Parish, Perry County Housing Authority, the Du Quoin Park Board, private contributors, and Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council.
The program is a potential life-saver as drowning remains an all too common cause of death for children of low income families. With access to swimming lessons and supervised time around water, participating youngsters gain the skills and confidence to enjoy swimming, and perhaps become competitive members of the Swimming Indians!
Select Energy Partners' contribution was led by southern Illinois representative Nick Hill. A Du Quoin native, Hill knows how important the city pool is in Du Quoin.
"Growing up in Du Quoin and being a part of the swimming program from ages 6-13, I know what the pool and swimming program means to our community. Now being able to give back and give a young kid an opportunity that he or she might not have had before means a lot to me and Select Energy. Select Energy Partners is committed to being involved in all of the communities we represent and this really hits home being from Du Quoin."
Rex Duncan is president of the board of directors of CCI and one of the founders of Project Adjutor. He said this and future contributions are important. "We are very grateful to Nick, Anna, and the entire Select Energy Partners team for this important contribution," Duncan said. "I'm hopeful that this will be the first of several donations that will help as many of our children as possible learn to swim."
Champion Community Investments is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. Contributions to Project Adjutor through CCI are tax deductible with 100% of contributions going to the swimming program. For more information about CCI and donations to Project Adjutor, contact Duncan at (618) 542-8570.