Letters of Thanks

Books Sandwiched In

The city of Beaufort is the best place to live. I know this because we just concluded our 30th year of Books Sandwiched In and it was a banner year, all because of the support of the people here — sponsors, members, volunteers and our locals who review a book each Monday in January and February.

Presenters this year were amazing and included Anita Singelton-Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue), Mike McFee, Katherine Lang, Victoria Smalls, Barbara Hathaway, Ellen Malphrus, and Barbara Olney. All the presentations were inspiring. The biggest surprise was Ned Tupper’s review of “Natchez Burning.” He brought along some friends — Rowland Washington (the first African American to attend Beaufort High School), Roland Gardner, Herman Gaither and Billy Keyserling. They talked about what integration was like in Beaufort in the 1960s. Their stories were eye-opening. Everyone agreed this event was worth repeating.

Books Sandwiched In is put on by the Friends of the Beaufort Library. It is free and open to the public. More than 1,800 people enjoyed these presentations this year. Donations fund our libraries (Lobeco, St. Helena, and Beaufort) so they can continue to innovate and evolve to serve their multitude of diverse patrons.

Thank you to our sponsors, raffle donors, members, presenters and our community for all you do to make our libraries the best they can be and welcoming to all.

Jewels and Jeans

On behalf of the board of the Foundation for Educational Excellence, as well as the students and teachers of Beaufort County School District who benefit from our grant programs, I would like to thank the donors and volunteers who made the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s recent annual fundraiser an overwhelming success.

The Jewels and Jeans event, held in March, raised more than $36,000 to support the foundation’s efforts of providing grants to exceptional teachers in Beaufort County for innovative projects not fully funded through traditional channels. These efforts are carried out through a variety of innovative grants awarded annually.

During the 2015-2016 school year, more than $53,000 in grants were awarded by the foundation, which was more than twice the amount awarded the previous year. And thanks to the generosity that was displayed at this year’s event, we hope to match those efforts again this coming school year.

Since 2009, the foundation has awarded more than $130,000 in grants to Beaufort County teachers that have resulted in more than 42,000 individual learning opportunities for students. From performing arts grants, to innovative teacher and school resource grants and our $1,000 “Above and Beyond” funds to each year’s District Teacher, we are pleased to be supporting positive efforts that make a difference in our schools.

A special thank you to our table sponsors, our donors who gave through the silent and live auctions, and those who supported the “Fund-a-Grant” initiative. Your kindness and generosity will touch the lives and effect the learning of thousands of Beaufort County students.

Bid for PAL Online Auction

Palmetto Animal League’s seventh annual Bid for PAL Online Auction was a huge success, raising more than $54,000, which will be used to support PAL’s rescue, rehabilitation and adoption programs at its Adoption Center and Community Clinic in Okatie’s Riverwalk Business Park.

We are extremely grateful for the community’s enthusiastic response to this fundraising event, especially the 520 registered bidders who participated and the more than 700 donated items we received from our wonderfully generous donors. Thank you also to our sponsors: Brown Golf, Mortgage Network, Heritage Golf, Sawmill Creek Smokehouse, Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Boathouse, The Vacation Company and The Bluffton Sun/The Hilton Head Sun.

The success of the auction would not have been possible without the commitment of co-chairs Wendy Schlegel, Mary Lynn Peacher, Cheryl Raugh and Pam Dyer, plus the 30 hard-working volunteers who canvassed the community for auction items and also administered the auction. And thank you to The Island Packet for helping us reach the audience we needed to make this auction a success.

Our sincere thanks to all of the auction participants — donors, volunteers, bidders, sponsors and media.

Bluffton Self Help

Special thank you to the Friends of Callawassie Island for awarding a grant to Bluffton Self Help for much-needed equipment.

This grant will be used to purchase large rolling bins to accommodate donated clothing. This incredible support will lessen the load for volunteers who prep the clothing for distribution free of charge to those in need living in our local community.

Bluffton Self Help is a local food and clothing distribution agency that meets the needs of local residents. “Neighbors supporting Neighbors!”

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Letters of Thanks."