Volume 2 Issue 1

As we welcome a new year, we want to look back at all the wonderful changes and growth experienced by Clover LEAF in 2023.

What a great year for Clover LEAF! We are fortunate to have directors on the Foundation Board who are passionate and dedicated to our mission. We came together and developed a culture of connections that breathed fresh air into the organization after the COVID restrictions. This paid off by invigorating our membership and expanding our participation in Clover School District activities.

We developed a 5-year strategic plan addressing internal operations, our grants program, and fundraising activities that has already provided dividends in all three areas. Internally, we have developed communications, financial, and grant policies and procedures that helped us move forward as an efficient Foundation Board. And our fundraising efforts will continue through the “Donor Tree”, Clover LEAF Cuisine, donations for special projects, and an added feature to highlight our grants with an “Inaugural Gala”.

Our mission revolves around our grants, which empower educators to enhance their creativity and innovation within the classroom. Through these grants, educators can explore new teaching methodologies, acquire cutting-edge resources, and develop inventive curricula that engage and inspire students. Thus, ultimately enriching the educational experience for students in the Clover School District. Addressing the core of our mission, a grant evaluation rubric and grade sheet were developed and used to evaluate 28 proposals submitted by educators. Of those, 17 grants were awarded for a total of $15,000 by the Foundation. Two of the grants funded this year show our breadth of interest and the creativity and innovation of our educators. “Study History See the World” provides virtual reality headsets so that students may virtually visit places like ancient Mesopotamia and the Great Pyramids as part of their study of world history. Our other showcase grant highlights programming for students with disabilities related to executive function. “Planning our Work then Working our Plan” focuses on time management, organization, and problem-solving skills.

In addition, we discovered there were notable opportunities for grants that met our mission but occurred outside of the normal grant application and award period. To address those, a Special Activities Grant program was developed to enhance the opportunities for students participating in national and international competition and recognition events. Clover LEAF presented Regional Spelling Bee Champion Peyton Goldenstein and her family a check to support their travel to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. Peyton is the first student from CSD to win the Regional Spelling Bee and earn the right to represent CSD at the National Spelling Bee.

Fund raising was kicked off in the spring with “ Mediterranean Morsels” catered by our own CHS Culinary Arts Program and featured bruschetta, gyros, pasta, tiramisu, and much more. Chef Michaw and his students have done this for two years, choosing the theme and the food menu. The food is always terrific. In the past, this fundraiser featured different food providers across the Clover area, but COVID restricted participation. Now, we can sample “Clover LEAF Cuisine” as an ongoing fundraiser while treated with the creativity and innovation of Chef Michaw and his Culinary Arts students.

Clover LEAF's “Donor Tree,” located in the lobby of the District Auditorium, features a metal tree and multicolored leaves. These leaves represent levels of grant donations given to LEAF in honor or in memory of persons donors would like to recognize. (The tree and leaves are products of the CHS engineering and art department students)

In addition to using funds donated by GREAT folks like you in funding our grants, we received Rotary Club funding for proposals that provided books with a kindness theme for young readers at the Back-to School Bash that Clover LEAF helped sponsor. During this time Foundation Directors worked hard to promote a successful “Cram the Bus with Kindness” drive for filling a school bus with back packs and needed school supplies for students throughout the district.

As we expanded our outreach in the community, we established monthly newsletters, such as this one, and have begun the development of a new website to complement our Facebook page (cloverleafsc). We also have established a Customer Relations Management database with over 360 entries. In support of the Clover High School’s Newspaper Production class, we are now a sponsor of the Roaring Eagle Newspaper. This is a year-round monthly publication, written and produced by the CHS Newspaper Production class. Check them out at THE ROARING EAGLE NEWS - Home !

Continuing our fundraising efforts into the coming year, we ask that you save the date for Clover LEAF’s Inaugural Gala on March 23, 2024 at River Hills Country Club, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Food, fun, and fundraising for Clover’s educators.

Join us on April 25, 2024, in the Clover High School Cafeteria from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM for a Louisiana-inspired dinner prepared by the Culinary Arts students. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online using the QR code below or in the District Office, 604 Bethel St.

Community involvement is a must to support the financial needs of the Clover LEAF mission. Show your support of our Clover School District educators and students by helping LEAF through the many avenues that are available to contribute.

In closing, a huge Thank You to our donors for your contributions and to our Foundation Board of Directors who continue to use their specific skills, competencies, and shared passion for Clover LEAF’s mission. Your support has made 2023 a very successful year for LEAF.

Please join us in our exciting and worthwhile endeavor, where each individual, including YOU, becomes a valuable gem in our ever-growing treasure chest – the Clover LEAF. Throughout the school year, our dedicated officers and committees will be actively disseminating newsletters and event updates, providing you with insights into our integrity, ongoing initiatives, and the ways in which you can contribute to Clover LEAF's mission of bolstering educators and students within the Clover School District. Your participation and support are essential to our collective success, and we look forward to sharing this inspiring path with you.

Your generous donation to Clover LEAF will support academic excellence by making a meaningful difference for educators and students. Please make checks, corporate matches or other gifts payable to Clover LEAF and mail them to:

Clover LEAF, Inc

604 Bethel Street

Clover, SC 29710

You may send your donation via PayPal by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code. Thank you for your support!

Contact Us:

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/CloverLEAFSC

Email: cloverleafsc@gmail.com

Website: www.cloverleafsc.org

Clover LEAF is a 501 (c) (3) organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent the law allows. The Foundation does not provide financial support for programs regularly funded by the Clover School District operating budget. Strict management of fiduciary responsibility is a basic tenet of the Foundation.

This newsletter is published by the Communications Committee and approved by the Board of Directors of the Leaders for Educational Advancement Foundation.