January 18 saw the return of the Beaufort Beach Ball Fundraiser &amp; Auction.

More than 200 party-goers converged at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort to soak in a night of beach-themed fun with the effervescent party band, The Men of Distinction.

The Beaufort Beach Ball serves as the key annual fundraiser for the Wardle Family YMCA capital campaign, which will fund facility improvements projects at the Y located in Port Royal. This year’s projects are new flooring for the common areas of the facility plus a renovation of the 24-year-old facility’s lobby space.

Event sponsorships, donations and ticket/raffle sales raised $57,000 for these projects.

A busy dance floor was just one of the highlights as Beaufort Beach Ball guests enjoyed delectable appetizers prepared by the students in the Battery Creek High School CATE program led by Chef Greg Lightener, perused 80 online silent auction items and purchased raffle tickets for a high quality entertainment package, with the winner drawn and announced during the night’s festivities – congratulations to the winner Brandon Williams.

The Beaufort Beach Ball Fundraiser &amp; Auction Committee wishes to thank presenting sponsor Merrill, a Bank of America Company, bar sponsor Carolina Air, Inc. and food sponsor Schiller and Hamilton Law Firm for their continuing support. Additional thanks to the following sponsors:

Brenda Black, Mary Jane &amp; John Martin, Dale Norris, Publix Super Markets Charities, Cross Community Church, Gordon &amp; Nan Krueger, May River Dermatology, The Beaufort Inn, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Gratia Chase, D &amp; S Heating &amp; Cooling, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, John &amp; JoAnn Fontana, Ralph &amp; Dolores Fuller, Ginnie Kozak, Fred &amp; Everette Kuhn, Carmen &amp; Don Meyer, Madison's Market LLC, Matrix Fitness, Port Royal Veterinary Hospital, Republic Services, Saulisbury Business Machines, Betty Laurent Photography, Beaufort Dog, Jan &amp; Gary Caron, EquitySafe Realty, Gilbert Law Firm, Heritage Learning, Inc., J&amp;J’s Barber Shop, Neal's Construction, Palmetto Vending, Sea Island Grill Restoration, Marshall &amp; Seda Shook, Southern Tree Services of Beaufort, and YMCA Power Women.

A very special thank you to our in-kind sponsors who make a huge contribution to the event’s success: Adams Outdoor Advertising, Battery Creek CATE Program, Beaufort Alarm &amp; Sound, Captured Moments Photography, Lowcountry Weekly/The Island News, Lowcountry Radio Group, New South Shirts, The Beaufort Inn, and Triple "B" Restaurant Group (Salt Marsh Brewing).

For more information on the Beaufort Beach Ball stop by the Y in Port Royal, call 843-522-9622 or visit beaufort-jasperymca.org.

The Wardle Family YMCA was charted in 1990 and opened its doors in June 1996. The YMCA is a locally autonomous non-profit organization made up of voluntary membership that is open to individuals of all ages, race, religion, incomes and abilities.