Beaufort Memorial Foundation gears up for 36th Valentine Ball

With the holidays behind us, a glittering spot is on the horizon for February in the Beaufort County community: the annual Beaufort Memorial Foundation Valentine Ball.

The ball, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, is in its 36th year, marking the continuation of a cherished tradition and a legacy of giving.

Two powerhouse couples are the co-chairs for the 2025 event, four professionals that give back to their community whenever they can: Dr. Aaron Sarathy, who practices in Bluffton at Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery, and Dr. Jennifer Wallace, owner of Palmetto Smiles of Beaufort. They are joined by Becky and Patrick Cunningham; Becky works with Dr. Wallace at Palmetto Smiles of Beaufort as the marketing director of the dentistry practice, and Patrick is a Merrill Lynch financial advisor.

“Their commitment to our community’s health is unwavering,” said Kim Yawn, Beaufort Memorial Foundation Chief Development Officer about the four co-chairs. “As we dedicate the proceeds of the Valentine Ball to expanding access to care and nurturing future health professionals, we’re confident they’ll lead us to a successful – and perhaps record-breaking – fundraising event.”

The event, which will be held at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort, will include the ever-popular features that guests have come to know and love: the pre-ball dinner parties, live music by Charlotte-based band “Color the Night,” a silent auction, cocktails and a dessert bar.

This year’s ball aims to raise $230,000 for the hospital’s comprehensive “Vision Campaign.”

“The Vision Campaign is a bold initiative to shape the future of health care in the Lowcountry,” said Kim Yawn, Beaufort Memorial Foundation Chief Development Officer. “Support for this campaign will empower Beaufort Memorial to expand access to care through the addition of new facilities, innovative partnerships and continuing our efforts to develop the health care workforce in our region.”

The Vision Campaign is a driving force behind several Beaufort Memorial projects currently underway, including the construction of the Bluffton Community Medical Campus (BCMC), which will provide a full-service emergency department, imaging services including X-ray, magnetic resource imaging (MRI) and CT technology, and an outpatient surgery center with four surgical suites. The BCMC will break ground in early 2025 at the corner of Buckwalter and Bluffton Parkways. 

“The Lowcountry as a region is growing quickly, and its residents deserve innovative health care solutions and improved accessibility to these services,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “We are proud to say that we are moving forward and will continue to expand access to high-quality care.”

Tickets to the ball are on sale now through Jan. 15; visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ValentineBall2025 to purchase.