Clover LEAF Marks 40 Years of Growing Educational Opportunity

This year, Clover LEAF proudly celebrates a milestone that reflects four decades of commitment to students, teachers, and the future of Clover schools. Founded 40 years ago, the Foundation will commemorate the occasion with a 40th Anniversary Gala on March 7 at Camelot Meadows in Belmont - a fitting celebration of a legacy rooted in service and community support.

Clover LEAF began as a simple but powerful idea. Former school board member and current Clover LEAF Secretary Windy Bartee recognized the value of educational foundations in other districts and believed Clover’s teachers and students deserved the same kind of support. Partnering with then–Communications Officer Teresa Glass, she set out to bring that vision to life. With the help of local attorney Hank Owen, the group drafted bylaws, and community leader Sonny Broach, a Duke Energy executive, agreed to serve as the Foundation’s first president. Charles Hutchins became the first treasurer.  Mrs. Bartee’s generous $10,000 gift provided the seed money to establish the Clover LEAF endowment, setting the Foundation on strong footing from the very beginning.

Over the years, Clover LEAF has relied on time-honored fundraising efforts and the dedication of volunteers who believed deeply in public education. Golf tournaments, community fundraisers, and even a beloved singing Christmas tree helped sustain the Foundation in its early years. That tradition of holiday music later evolved into the Christmas performances that remain a cherished community custom today (now performed by the Clover Choraliers). This year’s gala marks the third of its kind, continuing a tradition of gathering friends and supporters to invest in education.

Thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors and community partners, Clover LEAF has most recently supported the Clover High School Band’s participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade, provided essential equipment for the culinary arts program, funded the  enhanced elementary STEM labs, funded hydroponic gardens and many other teacher/student programs.    Over the past 40 years, the Foundation has remained true to its founding mission -supporting teachers with innovative ideas that enhance learning.

Each year, Clover LEAF awards more than 20 classroom grants, empowering educators to bring creativity and enrichment directly to their students. This year alone, more than $20,000 was awarded across the district, a remarkable growth from the three $500 grants distributed in the Foundation’s earliest days.

Forty years later, Clover LEAF stands as a testament to what thoughtful leadership, community generosity, and a belief in education can accomplish. As the Foundation celebrates this anniversary, it does so with gratitude for the past and confidence that its best work still lies ahead.