Popular fast food restaurant Raising Cane’s has partnered with District 7 to sponsor events throughout the school district.
Along with that, Cane’s will also honor two students per month during school board meetings.
The restaurant opened their Edwardsville location over the summer of 2024 with school mascots meeting fans as they ordered their chicken.
“We are excited to partner with Raising Cane’s,” District 7 Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton said in a press release following the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 27. “They exemplify the strong community connections we strive to foster in District 7.”
The partnership includes that Cane’s will sponsor many of District 7’s events through the “Cane’s Challenges.” These challenges are meant to promote student interaction at school events in return for rewards from the restaurant.
Cane’s will also be sponsoring the Student of the Month program. Designed to recognize two Edwardsville school district students, the award showcases those who have displayed a love for their school and community.
The sponsorship began in December while honoring two local students, second grader Sydney Strauss from Glen Carbon Elementary and senior Cincere Ruffin.
Strauss earned the honor due to her kind nature in the classroom while modeling good behavior, empathy and patience with her fellow students. She also made get-well-soon letters and cards for her classmates who were absent from school.
Ruffin was recognized due to his athletic perseverance, coming back from a major concussion and training hard for track and field. Ruffin was also honored for his efforts to assist the janitorial staff during lunch periods.
“Cane’s sponsoring the school and programs like Student of the Month is a fantastic way for local businesses to support their community,” Ruffin said. “It shows that they care about the well-being and success of students, and it helps create a stronger bond between the business and the community.”
With the partnership coming into effect, the district will continue to partner with Raising Cane’s for the rest of the 2025 school year and the foreseeable future.