This year the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton will recognize two outstanding community leaders with the presentation of their First Federal/SCBT Hope & Opportunity Award of Excellence. New River Auto Mall President and CEO, Warner Peacock, and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry President and CEO, Denise Spencer, will both receive the award at the Hope & Opportunity Honorary Cocktail Reception to be held at Belfair Plantation at 6 p.m. Tickets to the reception are $75 per person, and space will be limited. The event is sponsored by Audi Hilton Head, one of the nine premier dealerships featured at the New River Auto Mall.

The First Federal/SCBT Hope & Opportunity Award of Excellence is presented to individuals and organizations that have taken a leadership role in the community, and who, through their philanthropic endeavors, have helped to provide opportunity and hope to the young people of the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton. The Hope & Opportunity Award recipients' generosity and commitment to community involvement benefits not only the Boys & Girls Club, but families and individuals throughout the Lowcountry.

Warner Peacock will accept the award on behalf of all the dealerships that make up the New River Auto Mall. Together and individually, these dealerships, under the direction of Mr. Peacock, have supported a number of local charities by sponsoring many important fundraising events throughout the community.

The awards will be presented by John Boretti, First Federal/SCBT President, Beaufort Region, and Ryan Otts, the bank’s City Executive. The program will also feature Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton’s 2014 Youth of the Year, Mercedes Alexis Evanofski, who will speak about her personal experiences and involvement with the Boys & Girls Club. For more information, visit the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton website.