Clayton Foundation gives $1 million to Pellissippi State Foundation
The Performing Arts Center is getting a new name, thanks to a $1 million gift from the Clayton Foundation.
A ceremony presenting the gift to the Pellissippi State Foundation took place November 12 at the newly named Clayton Performing Arts Center.
The gift, announced jointly this week by Jim and Kay Clayton and Kevin and Chelly Clayton, will be divided equally between the CPAC and the College’s new Blount County Campus, says Pellissippi State President Allen Edwards.
“This is truly a remarkable gift for the College,” Edwards said. “It has the capacity to impact many of our programs and, at the same time, strengthen the future of Pellissippi State in the communities we serve.
“The philanthropy of the Clayton family in our area is well-known. The family’s investment is an important milestone for us, and we deeply appreciate their generosity.”
This is the second $1 million donation to the Pellissippi State Foundation’s ongoing Connecting Communities, Changing Lives Major Gifts Campaign.
“This gift will go a long way in helping us reach—and hopefully exceed—our $6 million goal when the campaign ends next summer,” said Edwards.
“Educational institutions,” said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes, “are the single greatest way to improve a community from all aspects: economic development, quality of life and opportunities for individuals to pursue their dreams.
“We hope this gift will encourage more students to attend Pellissippi State and provide them with a richer educational opportunity, then instill in them the importance of giving back to this area.”
Deborah Stevens, chair of the Pellissippi State Foundation Board of Trustees and an attorney with Lewis, King, Kreig & Waldrop, P.C., announced the gift at ceremony. Dr. Monroe Trout, a friend of the Clayton family, was emcee.
The family business, Clayton Homes, was launched in 1966 and is the nation’s largest producer and seller of manufactured housing. Jim Clayton is chair of Clayton Bank and Trust, and Kay Clayton is executive director of the Clayton Foundation, which she established in 2004 to expand the family’s philanthropic initiatives. She is also a director of Clayton Bank and Trust.
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