Valentine Ball Auction

Something For Everyone

Imagine vacationing next winter in Colorado’s beautiful Crested Butte ski resort or relaxing in a five-star villa overlooking the stunning Knysna Lagoon in South Africa. Maybe you prefer to stay closer to home and spend a week this summer in the scenic mountain community of High Hampton in Cashiers, North Carolina, or indulge in a six-night getaway to The Barclay, a luxurious condo in downtown Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead, renowned for its upscale shops and trendy restaurants.

     Whatever your fantasy getaway, you’ll have the chance to make it a reality this February when these extraordinary vacation packages come up for auction at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Valentine Ball.

     A highlight of the annual fundraiser benefiting Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the silent auction will feature an extraordinary collection of items that include everything from a Sunday afternoon oyster roast for 50 in the ACE Basin to a scotch tasting for eight on the veranda of the historic Secession house in downtown Beaufort.

     The much-anticipated auction will take place at both the Cocktail Affair Feb. 9 and the Valentine Ball gala Feb. 10 being held at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort. Descriptions of most of the 115 auction items can be viewed at www.Valentineball.cbo.io starting the second week of January. Select photos will be available for viewing.

     To make it easier for bidders, items will be listed by category, such as travel, sports and art. Each item will include a minimum starting bid and minimum bid increment. Guests will have the opportunity at both events to submit bids on the website using their cell phone or other mobile device. They will be notified via text if they have been outbid.

     Participants will need to complete a simple online registration before they can submit a bid. This year, online bidding on the silent auction items will accepted starting Feb. 1.

     The auction committee chaired by Laura Beall, Melissa Derrick and Amy Lang worked diligently to secure a vast array of items ranging from the unique to most sought after.

     Among the more unusual items being auctioned off is the “Five Alarm Firehouse Birthday for 20.” The party for little firefighters will be held at Station No. 2 on Ribaut Road and will include a tour of a fire truck, demonstrations and a fire hat and sticker for each child.

     Busy guests may opt for the “Squeaky Clean!” item. It includes four hours of professional house cleaning, carpet cleaning, a $200 voucher for outdoor house cleaning services, detailed window cleaning and a $100 dry cleaning gift certificate.

The eclectic collection of auction items also includes:

     •  A Lowcountry boil with beer and wine for 20.

     •  Installation of three 15-gallon trees of your choosing.

     •  A portrait session with a professional photographer.

     •  A Guided Hunt and Lunch for four at Ogeechee Plantation.

     “We’ve got everything from a purse donated by a local boutique to a private ballet lesson,” said Foundation senior events manager Brenda Molony. “With such an extensive collection of items, everyone will have the chance to participate in the fun.”

     Now in its 29th year, the Valentine Ball has raised more than $4.7 million to date for a wide array of hospital needs. Proceeds from the 2018 event are earmarked for the renovation of Beaufort Memorial’s surgical pavilion.

     Deadline to purchase tickets for the Cocktail Affair and Valentine Ball is Jan. 12. For more information, visit valentineball.org or call the Foundation at (843) 522-5774.