Gala fundraiser for Educational Excellence

By Tess Malijenovsky
The Beaufort County Foundation for Educational Excellence will hold their annual gala fundraiser “Jewels and Jeans” on Friday, March 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Country Club of Hilton Head. Money raised from the event’s silent and live auctions will benefit the children in Beaufort County public schools through the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s Innovative Teacher Grant Program; so come join the party.
The Country Club of Hilton Head’s Chef Mark Lietzke, recently recognized as one of the Top 12 ClubCorp Executive Chefs, will be serving superb food from tenderloins to seafood delicacies and music will be provided by one of Hilton Head Island’s favorite bands Lowcountry Boil. A live and silent auction of gifts — Fighter Pilot Experience, tickets to the Masters Golf Tournament, an Ultimate NASCAR Experience along with artwork, jewelry, local golf and restaurant certificates —will take place.
Chef Orchid, a finalist on Season 7 Food Network Star and one of the original founding “mama” of One Hot Mamas, has been selected to receive the Foundation’s annual Inspiration Award as one dedicated to public education, supportive of Beaufort County public schools, and one who possesses attributes to “inspire” others.
The Foundation, a fund of The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, provides Innovative Teacher Grants for projects, programs and equipment that are beyond regular school budgets. Grants awarded provide new classroom library materials, educational software, electronic microscopes and program to produce parts for robots.
Event tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased through the Foundation for Educational Excellence’s website www.foundationedexcellence.com. Tickets may also be purchased at all First Citizens branches in Beaufort County, Burkes Pharmacy and Pretty Papers on Hilton Head Island and Markel’s Gift Shop in Bluffton. For more information, please contact Carol McMillan, BCSD Community Services Coordinator at (843) 322-2306.