Glenforest School, in partnership with Clemson University, will host the first annual “al•aG Fundraising Event & Gala” Thursday, March 25, 2010. The event will take place on campus in the Glenforest School Grand–Auditorium in the main building in West Columbia.

Glenforest School is a K–12 nonprofit 501c(3) day school dedicated to educating children with learning differences (or disabilities) and focusing issues. They help children who might otherwise “fall through the cracks” of education.

The inaugural alaG event is designed to make a difference to the many children, families, and individuals in the community who are affected by learning differences by stimulating public consciousness, increasing awareness, educating, fundraising and encouraging support.

“Supporting the alaG will help all students receive the academic, social and emotional support they need for success in the future.” Says Chris Winkler, head of school “Our aim is to generate funding that gives us the power to offer any child the chance to benefit from the program. We never want to turn away a family in need because they cannot afford our help. We can’t achieve this goal without community support.”

Candy Fant The “alaG,” which is “Gala” spelled backwards, characterizes the changing face of Glenforest School, a transition being driven by recently appointed and forward– thinking Head of School Chris Winkler and a leading School Board.

While the alaG celebrates the beginning of the school’s next chapter, it will also recognize the historic generosity of the wider community. This year two extraordinary citizens — Ted O. McGee Jr. and Candy Fant will be formally recognized for their outstanding contributions, advocacy, and support for children with learning differences in Columbia.

Ted McGee Jr. The alaG Fundraising Event and Gala will take place from 6:15 to 9:15 pm in the Glenforest School Auditorium at 1401 Harbor Drive in West Columbia. There will be student presentations, guest speakers, dinner catering sponsored by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, along with refreshments and live entertainment. In addition local radio personality, The Early Show co–host and Clemson University Alumn Benji Norton of 107.5 FM The Game will be emceeing the event. Tickets are $25 a person and can be purchased at the door. For more information or to RSVP to this event, please contact Naomi Jones at 796-7622 or visit Glenforest.org.

About alaG Honorees Ted McGee Jr and Candy Fant

Ted O. McGee Jr., president and co–owner of McGee Real Estate Company has been a continuous pillar of support to Glenforest School for over 20 years in addition to serving on the Board of Directors on for several other community organizations and he was also recently awarded Family Owned Business of the Year by the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce. His son Teddy is dyslexic and struggled with learning differences that went undiagnosed for years until he was 24. As a parent his first hand experience of what it takes to overcome a learning difference without appropriate support made him see how extremely important it is for children who learn differently to also be taught differently, a reality that is not widely understood. Although his son was never given a chance to benefit from the kind of specialized learning program Glenforest provides, Ted has consistently demonstrated his dedication to children with learning differences through generous funding, advocacy, and support for both students and the school.

Candy Fant works as executive assistant to Jim Roquemore (C.E.O of Patten Seed Company/ Super–Sod.) She is mother of two Glenforest School students and has been instrumental in helping many children with learning differences in addition to supporting her own. Although her children have graduated, Candy serves as a houseparent for children who live too far away to commute to the school and otherwise could not attend. Over the years she has demonstrated remarkable kindness and guidance to students who have needed a local place to live; she even accommodated and nurtured as many as five Glenforest students all at once in her home.