Photo ID: Members of the Candler Clays committee along with staff from St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Foundations celebrate their fundraising total of $207,220 for this year’s event. From left to right: Dennis Reed, Youlia Bolgan, Ellie McKenzie, Gretchen Pearce, Matt Albert, Sam Lewis, Ashley DuBois, Vernice Rackett and Hal Richards.

It broke its own record and also broke the $200,000 mark for fundraising, proving that in its 20^th year, the Candler Clays Charity Shoot and Auction is more popular—and more impactful—than ever. This is good news for cancer patients and their families across the region, because that fundraising total will go to St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundations’ Advancements in Cancer Care initiatives in Savannah, Bluffton, Hilton Head and surrounding regions.

Candler Clays is an annual two-day event combining a charity auction of items donated by local merchants and a clay shooting competition at the Forest City Gun Club. Since its inception two decades ago, the Clays event has raised $1.95 million for the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler.

"Candler Clays celebrated its 20th anniversary reaching a record goal led by more sponsors than ever before,” said Vernice Rackett, Executive Director of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundations. “Loyal sporting clays enthusiasts traveled from Boston, Bluffton, Greenville and Hilton Head for this hallmark event.”

Among the many generous sponsors, J.E. Dunn Construction was this year’s presenting sponsor, and Mingledorff Family Trust was the platinum sponsor. Batson Associates was this year’s gold sponsor. The event was co-chaired by Matt Albert and Sam Lewis. 

“Matt and Sam inspired the committee as well as our dedicated volunteers,” Rackett said. “Everyone gathered in the spirit of gratitude, remembering past honorees in support of Advancements in Cancer Care for the needs of our patients.”

Each year the event honors a survivor or memorializes someone who died of cancer. This year, the honoree was breast cancer survivor Dr. Monica Kenney. 

“Dr. Kenney’s poignant survivor story moved the Live Auction participants to donate more than $68,000 to sustain the Nurse Navigation program for the cancer patients we treat,” Rackett said.

Prizes were presented to the top male and female shooter as well as to the top youths, the 1^st and 2^nd place teams and Lewis Class C & B:

·  High Male: Creighton Capel - 50

·  High Female: DeDe Cargill - 44

·  Female Youth: Ayden McKenzie - 45

·  Male Youth: Jake Kinlaw - 50

·  1^st place team: Hutson Plumbing

·  2^nd place: Coastal Veterinary Oncology

·  Lewis B: Classic Craft Dental Lab

·  Lewis C: Batson Associates 

St. Joseph’s/Candler would like to thank and recognize the 2022 Candler Clays Committee: 

·  Matt Albert, Committee Co-Chair

·  Sam Lewis, Committee Co-Chair

·  Michael Bone

·  Ashley DuBois

·  Ellie McKenzie

·  Dennis Reed

·  Hal Richards