West Metro Rotary holds Chili Cook- off for Glenforest School
Storyand Photo by
Jessica Cross
crossja84@gmail

Barton Calvert; Gillian Barclay- Smith, Glenforest School Head; and Richie Moye with Chili Champ Chair

The West Metro Rotary Club is putting Rotary's motto, "Service above Self," into action with their third annual Chili Cook- off at Glenforest School on Saturday, March 31. Glenforest educates students in grades K- 12 who face learning differences such as ADD and ADHD.

Proceeds of the cook- off help support Glenforest programs such as "Project Read," which helps students learn to read in a classroom setting with a one- to- three student to teacher ratio. Tickets for the event are $15, but kids under 12 eat for free.

Richie Moye, president of the West Metro club, says that Glenforest's "miracle results" in working with students is the motivating factor behind the club's support of the school.

Established in 1983, Glenforest has helped many students who struggle in a public school setting. One such student was Jerrod Clark, who was told by the faculty of a local high school that he would never graduate. Not only did Clark graduate from Glenforest School in 1999, but he took his diploma back to his public high school to show the faculty. Clark graduated from the Savannah School of Arts with a B.A. in Graphic Arts.

Barton Calvert is the dean of students at Glenforest and a member of the West Metro Rotary Club. He indicates the philosophy of Glenforest is that "learning differences are not the same as intelligence." Calvert says that many students like Clark demonstrate high levels of intelligence but learn through a variety of different teaching methods that are not typically used at a public school.

For example, if a child at Glenforest is an auditory learner, he or she may attend classes that are tailored to suit an auditory learning style. Classes at Glenforest range between seven and 10 students per class, depending on the age group.

This year, approximately 15 contestants from the West Metro Rotary Club and the community at large will bring their home- cooked chili recipes to compete and raise support for Glenforest School.

Some of the recipes from local Rotary Club members include "Davis's Demon Chili," by Ross Davis, "Hat Hot Chili," by Bill Hatfield, and Calvert's own "Bulldog Chili." Named for Glenforest's mascot, "Bulldog Chili" won a grand prize at the cook- off in 2005. Also represented at the competition are individuals from local businesses such as State Farm and GMM Insurance.

Activities and entertainment scheduled for the cook- off range from a British car show to Glenforest's silent auction. Proceeds of the auction also benefit the school.

The Chili Cook- off is from 11:30 am- 3:30 pm at Glenforest's baseball field, 1041 Harbor Dr. in West Columbia. From downtown Columbia, take Hwy 378 and turn left just before Lexington Hospital. Glenforest is on the right facing I- 26.

Visit westmetrorotarysc.org for more information on the West Metro Rotary Club and the Chili Cook- off. For information on Glenforest School, call 796-7622 or visit www.glenforest.org.