Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Announces Fundraiser
The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation has announced an event in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Mattoon Area Community Foundation and the Arland D. Williams, Jr. Scholarship Fund. The Harvest Dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, September 20 at Emerald Acres in Mattoon.
“For forty years, we have honored Arland Dean Williams, Jr., along with dozens of other respected Mattoon natives, through the Mattoon Area Community Foundation, which became an important part of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation over 15 years ago,” Kristen Bertrand, Program Officer for the Foundation said.
Born and raised in Mattoon, Williams graduated from The Citadel in 1957, an Oscar Company sergeant and Business Administration major who loved intramural sports. He served in the military for two years after graduating and went on to become a Federal Reserve Bank examiner. In 1982, he became America’s hero when he sacrificed his life in order to save the lives of five others who survived a plane crash into the Potomac River. It is that spirit of hard work, sacrifice and service to others that we look for each year when choosing award recipients.
“This scholarship has been instrumental in helping me achieve my long-standing goal of earning a Master’s Degree in Business Administration,” Callan Wilson, the 2025 recipient explained. “I am deeply honored to receive this award, which commemorates a true hero from our community. His story continues to inspire me to live a life of selflessness and service to others. I am sincerely grateful for this recognition, as it will help relieve the financial stress of tuition, allowing me to stay fully focused on my studies.“
In the last 40 years, more than $100,000 has been awarded to students who have received the Arland D. Williams, Jr. Scholarship through donations from MHS alumni and community members. Organizers of the Harvest Dinner hope that it will serve as a way to recognize both the donors and the recipients.
Derek Pierce, the 2015 recipient, now contributes to the fund annually so that other students can be afforded the same opportunity. “I was working to pay for school, so this scholarship allowed me to focus more on my studies and less on work,” Pierce said. “I give back to show that the legacy of his acts are never forgotten.”
The Harvest Dinner is open to the public, but advance reservations are required. More information can be found on the Facebook page and at www.southeasternillinois.org, or by calling (217) 342-4988.