Thank you for HBF Lafayette Soiree support
This year’s Lafayette Soirée on May 10 celebrated the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Beaufort. Held at the iconic Dr. Joseph F. Johnson House, ca. 1861, also known as “The Castle,” hundreds of guests mingled beneath the oaks as rainstorms took a welcome break for the Lafayette Soirée.
We are forever grateful to our gracious property owners and hosts Dave and Nancy Russell for opening their beautiful gardens in support of Historic Beaufort Foundation’s mission to preserve and protect Beaufort’s historic, architectural and cultural legacy.
A special thank you to the vision and passion of Soirée Chairman Rob Johnston, who created an unforgettable evening for all.
Since the 1980s, Historic Beaufort Foundation has held the annual Lafayette Soirée in recognition and celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit.
In keeping with our mission to preserve and protect Beaufort’s National Historic Landmark District, we are delighted to dedicate proceeds from this year’s Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée to benefit a collaborative program to rehabilitate historic properties within the Northwest Quadrant and the Old Commons Neighborhoods.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation and membership organization HBF relies on our members, friends, partners and donors to achieve our mission. The Lafayette Soiree is one of HBF’s primary annual fundraisers.
None of our events would be possible without the hundreds of hours spent behind the scenes in planning, and in coordination, by dozens of dedicated volunteers, partners and HBF staff. We are thankful to all — Sponsorship chairs Meg and Rob Wynne; Food and Beverage chairs Anne Marie Wilson and Donna Dehncke; and Silent Auction chairs and team Laurie Alioto, Donna Dehncke and Kristin McConnell, Melanie Clem and Julie Sanford. Thanks, too, to David Cohen for help with set-up and take-down.
Also, Floral & Design chairs Amelie Cromer, Margaret Kincheloe, Liz Blair, Stella Scott and their team: Alexis Bomar, Jodie Miller, Tei Tober, Peggy Reynolds, Brenda Litchfield, Mary Bassett, Susan Bledsoe, Ruth Anne Lawson and Amy McNeil; Check-in team Susan Dickey, Amy McNeil, Robin Leverton, Elaine Robinson, Lewis Robinson and Shay Mikell.
Our signature caterer for this year’s Soiree was Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe, joined by restaurant partners Maggioni Oyster Company and Saltus River Grill. Event partners were AMIkids Beaufort, Charleston Tents & Events; Beaufort High School’s JROTC; Kelly Tours Beaufort, Pat and Suzanne McGarity, Reddy-Ice and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The “Presenting Sponsor” is listed as A Friend of HBF. Our Garden Parlor sponsors were Rob and Monica Johnston and J.H. Hiers Construction.
Table & Bar Sponsors included Greenfield at Green Pond; Harvey & Battey P.A.; Lowcountry Real Estate; Lyles and Associates LLC; Modern Jewelers; and Phifer Contracting Services.
Bluff Sponsors were First Federal Bank; Robert and Leslie Ketner; Savannah Hardscapes; Sea Island Insurance Group; and Tumlin Levin Sumner Wealth Management.
Marsh Sponsors were AlphaGraphics, Atlantic Asphalt LLC; Beaufort County Open Land Trust; Beaufort History Tours; Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; Bezilla, Kinney, Phifer Wealth Management; Gilbert Law Firm; John and Danielle Troutman; Kinghorn Insurance; Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm; Lynn & Wheeler, CPAs; Montgomery Architecture and Planning, Royal Restrooms; Eventworks, Beaufort Carts, and Salt Marsh Pest Solutions.
We thank the City of Beaufort Public Works Department and Downtown Operations Department for their support and assistance with this endeavor.
Finally, to everyone who, over the years, has supported Historic Beaufort Foundation and worked to preserve Beaufort’s irretrievable architectural heritage, thank you. It is more important than ever that we strive to retain the authenticity that is the real Beaufort.
— Cynthia Jenkins, Executive Director, Historic Beaufort Foundation
Beaufort County EMS, Beaufort Police go above and beyond
Some elderly family members were winding down spending a few months in Beaufort to get away from the wintry surroundings of their home up north. Unfortunately, one of them had a health crisis that was very difficult to deal with and made it necessary for us to seek help from emergency services several times over the course of nearly a week.
I am writing to let you know that the professionals who came from Beaufort County EMS and your city police department were truly wonderful. I can’t tell you how much we appreciated their kindness, patience and assistance. They intervened in ways that made all the difference in what was a pretty rough situation.
Eddie Schroyer and Gary Taylor were key among those who represented your EMS; likewise Officers Jackson and Beck — and there were others, too. In each instance, they couldn’t have been nicer. There is no way to express our profound gratitude for all that they did. And when we finally got to the hospital and were there all day, several of them stopped to check on us as they came and went with other emergencies.
I just wanted to let you know that you can be as proud of these emergency professionals as we are grateful. Because of them, we were able to get our family member into a car to make the drive back home to receive ongoing treatment (and now getting better). We can’t thank these paramedics and police officers — or your community — enough.
— Kathy Gibbons, Traverse City, Mich.
Protect clean energy
South Carolina is a real success story in America’s clean energy boom. But the recent budget bill passed by the U.S House guts clean energy tax credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This threatens to derail our state’s economic progress. Since the IRA was passed, more than $15 billion of private investment (not public dollars) for clean energy businesses has flowed into South Carolina. More than 14,000 jobs and multiple new business opportunities have been created.
These investments aren’t abstract; they’re building real facilities and supporting real families. Whether it’s Scout motors in the Midlands or new solar installation companies popping up across the Upstate, the IRA’s tax credits are driving job creation and economic development in every corner of our state. The jobs they create have higher salaries than the average S.C. worker currently earns.
But now, the House intends to end the very credits that have made this private investment and economic development possible.
The Senate will weigh in on the budget bill soon. South Carolina stands to lose tens of thousands of future jobs and billions in economic growth. The Senate can prevent this. Senators Graham and Scott are well aware that South Carolina is benefiting from these credits. Please urge them to protect the clean energy incentives that are putting South Carolinians to work.
— Tim Joy, Lady’s Island