The Clayton Family Foundation has pledged $500,000 to the Motlow College Foundation’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) endowment fund, according to tullahomanews.com. Jim Clayton, the founder of Clayton Homes of Maryville, Tennessee, and of the Clayton Foundation, has degrees in law and engineering, and currently is director and vice-chairman of Clayton Bancorp of Knoxville, a multi-bank holding company. His engineering background provided the impetus for his support of the STEM program at Motlow State Community College, which has its main campus in Moore County in southern middle Tennessee, but also has learning centers in five nearby cities.

President of Motlow, Dr. MaryLou Apple, says, “The next generation of inventors and explorers is sitting in our middle school classrooms. Our goal at Motlow College, with the help of philanthropists like Jim Clayton, is to encourage our young people to be innovative, analytical thinkers that will help our state remain competitive and continue to provide a high quality of life.” As MHProNews reported May 22, 2013, Clayton Homes CEO Kevin Clayton partnered with teacher Patricia Bradley to open the Clayton-Bradley STEM school on the grounds of Clayton Homes in Maryville. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Clayton is the largest producer of manufactured homes in North America.

(Photo credit: Clayton Homes)