Clemson SERTOMA Club
SERVICES WE PROVIDE
Speech and Hearing
Speech and hearing is the national service project of Sertoma. Clemson Sertoma supports this locally by partnering with Camp Sertoma and by supporting community needs for the hearing impaired.
Camp Sertoma
Camp Sertoma is a state-wide summer residential camp organized over 40 years ago to serve underprivileged children as well as children with speech and hearing challenges. During six one-week sessions, 240 children are served annually in the state. The Clemson Sertoma Club recruits and registers more than 20 area children each summer, providing full scholarships to the participants. We also contribute to maintaining the camp facilities by participating in and hosting camp work weekends. See a video below of photos from our most recent work weekend at Camp Sertoma. We believe that immersion in wholesome, fun, challenging, and educational camp activities while surrounded and guided by outstanding and positive staff role models can have a significant impact in the life of a child. Refer to the Camp Sertoma website for more information.
PARTNER Program
The Clemson Sertoma Club has created a program to "PARTNER" with area individuals, businesses, and corporate groups to financially support the children selected annually to attend Camp Sertoma. In general, each PARTNER agrees to a plan to fully fund the fees for one camper each summer over a five year period. The PARTNER program has proven to be an outstanding opportunity to promote Sertoma throughout the community by extending our services to PARTNERS who believe in community service and have a heart for children and children's issues. The Clemson Sertoma Club acknowledges the gifts of each PARTNER and the opportunity to collectively impact the lives of special children.
Christmas Tree Sales
For nearly a half century, the Clemson Sertoma Club has held an annual Christmas tree sale. Selling high-quality Fraser Fir trees begins on Black Friday and usually continues for three weeks, until all trees are sold. Money from the sales helps the club fund its many charitable activities. Normally between 250 and 270 trees are sold each year. Many Clemson community residents are repeat customers and look forward to buying their tree from the club. They appreciate knowing their purchase supports the club’s sending of children to Camp Sertoma and funding of local charitable causes. Also the club provides trees to Clemson Community Care and to “Trio,” the holiday extravaganza sponsored by the Clemson Free Clinic and Arts Center. Many club members participate in working at the tree lot and enjoy socializing with other members and the public.
Community Support
The club makes donations to other community service organizations, donates to individuals in need, sponsors a collegiate Sertoma Club at Clemson University, holds work days to help maintain Camp Sertoma and other summer camps at Clemson’s Outdoor Lab, provides $250 each year to Edwards Middle School and Daniel High School for use in their libraries, and sponsors the $2000 Clarence L.B. Addison Memorial Scholarship, which memorializes a former club member who spent his life in service to mankind. Also the club contributed to the fountain at the Catherine Smith Plaza in Clemson, which contains a perpetual plaque honoring recent recipients of the club’s Service to Mankind Award.
Arionna Marsh (far right) is the club's most recent recipient of the Clarence L.B. Addison Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is sponsored by the Clemson Sertoma Club and is awarded based on academic excellence and service to others.
The Clemson Sertoma Club was awarded a $2,000 Community Grant from the National Sertoma Office to support community charitable programs and organizations. The Clemson club is partnering with Clemson Community Care to help provide services to those in need. In addition to the check presented to Karen Carter, the club collects donations at their bi-monthly meetings. The project represents just one of many ways the Clemson Sertoma Club provides "SERvice TO MAnkind".
The Clemson Sertoma Club established the Charlie White Staff Scholarship in 2023. The first scholarship was awarded to Essence Thompson, a rising junior at Clemson University. Essence has displayed "the heart of Charlie White" during her many years of service to the campers and staff at Camp Sertoma. Members of the 2023 Camp Sertoma staff were eligible for the scholarship. Candidates completed scholarship applications that included essays and letters of reference from staff leaders. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a Camp Sertoma staff member.