The Cornelius Arts Center is proud to announce that they will name their upcoming arts center after local community leaders Bill and Ericka Cain. The renaming comes as a result of the Cain’s generous lead gift of five million dollars to the Center’s comprehensive campaign.
Bill and Ericka Cain relocated Financial Independence Group, FIG, to Cornelius in 1998. Dr. Cain serves as Chief Executive Officer while Mrs. Cain serves as Executive Administrator. The Cain’s are passionate about pursuing opportunities that allow them to help others. In 2017, they were both honored for their community work. Dr. Cain received the Robert T. Cashion Person of the Year Business Award, and Mrs. Cain received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Business Today.
“We are thrilled to be able to be part of the arts center,” says Dr. Cain. He notes that the center will benefit everyone, including adults, children, families, seniors, and members of the business community. “The arts center will improve the aesthetics of the community and it will be the catalyst to bring more improvement to the area. We can’t think of any reason not to support it.”
The Cain’s gift, alongside initial fundraising and public funding from the Town of Cornelius totals $12 million towards the center’s $25 million campaign goal. Cornelius Arts Center Board President, Greg Wessling, believes the Cain’s lead gift will help to build further momentum and excitement for the project during the early phase of the campaign.
“We are honored to have Bill and Ericka Cain make this legacy investment to name the facility,” says Wessling. “It not only provides a foundation for the center, but calls all of us to action in following their lead. It tells everyone that this arts center project is a reality.”
The new center will also anchor the revitalization and economic redevelopment of downtown Cornelius. “The Cains leadership for the arts center project is going to provide so many positive effects for Cornelius and the Lake Norman Region,” says Mayor Woody Washam Jr. “It’s going to provide quality education, entertainment and social experiences for all ages. It’s also going to create more opportunities for successful economic development projects for our downtown area.”
The Center will coordinate with the Cains in creation of the new organizational brand, with plans for unveiling in early November.