VALENTINE BALL 2020

Raises Funds For the Beaufort Memorial Foundation

story by MARIE McADEN

hile most of us are just beginning to decorate our homes with garlands and twinkling lights, Sarah and Greg Dyson have skipped right past Christmas to focus on February’s big holiday event.
As co-chairs of the 2020 Valentine Ball, the Dysons are helping orchestrate what has become the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation’s signature fundraiser and one of the city’s most anticipated social events of the year.

Over the next few weeks, the Dysons and co-chairs Mary and Jon Lohr will be strategizing with committees charged with planning every detail of the two-day event. An enormous organizational undertaking, it involves hundreds of volunteers working on everything from donations for the silent auction to coordinating the 50-plus pre-ball private dinner parties that have made the gala such a huge success.

“The Valentine Ball is a Beaufort fixture,” said Dyson, former chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “We have been so fortunate over the years to have so many people willing to step up and help.”

Celebrating its 31st year, the Valentine Ball takes place the weekend of February 7-8 and includes the Cocktail Affair Friday evening, followed Saturday night by pre-gala dinner parties hosted in private residences and the black-tie Ball.

Since its inception in 1990, the event has raised more than $5 million for a wide array of hospital improvements, from the expansion of the Emergency Department and LifeFit Wellness Center to new technology for the Breast Health Center and Keyserling Cancer Center. Proceeds from the 2020 fundraiser are earmarked for the $12 million renovations of Beaufort Memorial’s surgical pavilion, last remodeled almost 30 years ago.

Last year alone, there were over 9,000 surgical procedures performed at Beaufort Memorial, both inpatient and outpatient. Planned improvements will benefit patients by providing new technologies requiring less invasive procedures. In addition, offering access to state-of-the-art surgeries right here in Beaufort will save local residents time and money, as well as reduce stress for patients and their families.

No one understands the need to update the OR better than the honorary co-chair of the Cocktail Affair, vascular surgeon Dr. Chad Tober.

“We have some very talented surgeons who do incredibly good work in there,” said Tober, a member of the hospital’s medical staff since 2004. “But surgical medicine has changed so much, a renovation of the OR is long overdue. Improving the unit will allow us to optimize what we can deliver and help us attract top physicians.”

These improvements will also help keep the hospital financially viable. As the second-largest employer in Beaufort, the hospital is a significant contributor to the overall economic health of our community.

It was after witnessing the care Greg’s parents received at the hospital that the Dysons became steadfast Beaufort Memorial supporters. In addition to hosting Valentine Ball dinner parties, Sarah sat on the Foundation’s board of trustees for more than a dozen years, serving as secretary, vice-chair, and finally chair.

Sarah got her inside look at the OR last year when she underwent knee replacement surgery. She is so committed to the renovation project. She accepted the post of Valentine Ball co-chair even as she was getting ready to complete her term as head of the Foundation.

“Greg and I were thrilled to be asked to be this year’s Valentine Ball co-chairs,” Dyson said. “It was a nice transition for me after serving my last term on the board of trustees.”

Working with the Dysons are the Lohr’s. Jon is a technical analyst for Beaufort Memorial’s digital health services; Mary is a partner with Howell, Gibson, and Hughes and has served as an attorney for the hospital for many years. Since they moved to Beaufort in 2001, they have attended every Valentine Ball event.

“The hospital does so much for the community,” Jon Lohr said. “And we’re working every day to expand access and improve services to ensure residents get the best medical care right here close to home.”

Dr. Tober and his wife, Tei, have been equally committed to helping the Foundation. Recognizing the significant role it has played in transforming Beaufort Memorial from a community hospital into a high-quality regional healthcare provider, they have done everything they can to support the nonprofit organization.

Tei first became involved with the Foundation in 2007 after marrying Tober and moving to Beaufort. She brought with her years of experience as director of development at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community on James Island. She started out stuffing envelopes and helping plan the Valentine Ball. In later years, she got involved with the annual appeal and was appointed to the Foundation’s board. The couple served as Sweetheart sponsors of the Ball, and in 2012 co-chaired the annual fundraiser.

Avid cooks, the Tobers have hosted elegant pre-ball dinners in their home as well as cocktail parties to introduce members of the community to hospital administrators, staff, and members of the Foundation. This year, they’re serving as honorary co-chairs of the Friday night Cocktail Affair.

“The only way to make the hospital better is to pool our resources,” Tei said. “It’s really important for people in the community to support the hospital to ensure it’s able to provide high-quality care when they need it.”

As in years past, both the Cocktail Affair and Ball will be held at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort. Tickets for the February 7 and 8 events are already on sale. Everyone who purchases a ticket to the Ball by Jan. 11, will be invited to one of the pre-ball dinner parties hosted by volunteers in their private homes. Following dinner, guests make their way to Tabby Place for the main event.

Tickets for the 2020 Valentine Ball weekend are now available. Cocktail Affair tickets are $90 per person, Ball tickets $175 (which includes a pre-event dinner party), and tickets for both events are $225. For more information on the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraiser, visit valentineball.org or call the Foundation at (843) 522-5774.