Clemson to confer 1,000 degrees, honor The Cliffs' CEO

CLEMSON, SC – December 13, 2010 – Clemson University will confer approximately 1,000 degrees at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the winter graduation ceremony at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Jim Anthony, CEO of The Cliffs Communities, will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree during the event.

Anthony founded The Cliffs Communities in 1991 in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he was born and raised. In the 19 years since, The Cliffs has expanded to include eight master-planned communities and has been recognized nationally for its premier residential areas and golf resorts.

Anthony has established several nonprofit foundations for philanthropic endeavors in such areas as conservation and educational outreach. His commitment to children’s wellness is reflected in his connection with Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute. The Cliffs has made major gifts to Clemson to develop world-class outdoor adventure programs for youth and their families.

Anthony’s gifts helped create the South Carolina Teacher Renewal Center in 2008 and Zest Quest in 2009. Zest Quest is a school-based program created to inspire children and their families to develop healthy lifestyles. His support will fund operation and expansion of the program, which is expected to become a national model.

Additional collaboration with Clemson includes The Cliffs Center for Environmental Golf Research, which is designed to produce environmentally friendly golf courses and green space management. Also in partnership with Clemson, along with the Chilean government and the Wilderness Foundation, Anthony helped create Lago Copa Park, a 29,000-acre national park in southern Patagonia, Chile, to protect the second largest watershed in the region. 

image by: The Cliffs Communities