Community: Gift Helps the RV Heritage Foundation Surpass the $1 Million Kevin Clayton Challenge
Pleasureland RV President Dan Pearson has made a substantial contribution to the Kevin Clayton $1 Million Debt Reduction Challenge, bringing the total pledges and contributions to $1 million and reaching the goal of the campaign, one year ahead of schedule, according to Darryl Searer, president of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation.
“After the Class of 2018 RV/MH Hall of Fame (Hall) Induction Dinner earlier this month, Dan Pearson, who was among the 2018 inductees, asked, ‘How much do you need to reach the Clayton Challenge goal?’ I told him about $16,000,” said Searer. “He said, ‘Not any more – send me an invoice!’ The Foundation’s board of directors and staff are greatly appreciative of Dan’s contribution, as well as all the others who helped us reach this important milestone.”
The Kevin Clayton $1 Million Debt Reduction Challenge got a kick start from an “angel” named Kevin Clayton (Clayton Homes) in October 2014, who pledged $200,000 paid out in five years, and he challenged other companies and individuals to step up also. Many others have donated from $100 to $50,000.
The Hall has come a long way in the past seven years since Searer volunteered to accept the challenge to lead the Hall out of a $5.5 million deficit when few thought the Hall could even survive.
During the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Searer announced that the Foundation would be debt free by the end of the year, thanks in no small part to Searer’s business acumen and leadership. Searer did remind everyone that even thou the Hall will be debt free, it will still require support from both industries on an ongoing basis to be prepared for repairs to an aging building.
