Clayton Foundation Donates $10K to Feed 3,000 Families

A $10,000 gift from the Clayton Foundation is bringing Christmas dinner to 3,000 East Tennessee families this year through the News Sentinel's Empty Stocking Fund.

Jim Clayton, the Knoxville founder of Clayton Homes, has built a legacy that extends far beyond manufactured housing. His family's donations have created concert halls, art centers, and a $25 million transformation of The Muse children's museum.

But some of their most meaningful gifts happen quietly. The Clayton family has been paying for hundreds of Empty Stocking Fund baskets for years, ensuring families can gather around the table for Christmas dinner.

"The Jim Clayton family and staff are honored to partner with the News Sentinel's Empty Stocking Fund and its legacy of serving the Knoxville community," Clayton told Knox News. This year's donation will help fund 3,000 holiday meal boxes distributed through News Sentinel Charities.

The Empty Stocking Fund has been filling gaps for families during the holidays for over a century. Each box provides a nutritious holiday meal for four people plus enough staples to last through the week.

Clayton's approach to giving started with his business philosophy. When he built Clayton Homes, he insisted on incorporating charitable efforts into the company's DNA. Even after selling the corporation to Berkshire Hathaway in 2003, that commitment continues today.

The Ripple Effect

The Clayton Foundation focuses on three core areas: arts, education, and family services. From grand public spaces where families make memories at symphony concerts to private kitchen tables where struggling families share holiday meals, the impact touches every corner of Knoxville.

This kind of sustained giving creates stability for nonprofits like the Empty Stocking Fund. Organizations can plan better and serve more families when they know reliable donors will show up year after year.

The foundation's multi-generational approach means Jim Clayton's children and staff are carrying the mission forward, ensuring decades more of community support.

Anyone can join the Clayton family's efforts by donating to the Empty Stocking Fund year-round at esfknox.org, helping ensure no East Tennessee family goes without a holiday meal.