Hampton County to partner with Mallory Beach-inspired Mal's Palz, build animal shelter

The tragic, untimely death of a Hampton County teen may ultimately leave behind a positive impact in the community she called home, and for the animals she called friends.

The Hampton County Council has agreed to explore a partnership with the Mallory Beach-inspired Mal's Palz Foundation with the ultimate goal of building a new county animal shelter.

The County Council voted unanimously Monday, Nov. 6, to approve a resolution "committing to exploring the possibility of partnering with Mal's Palz," a charitable organization founded in memory of Beach, a 19-year college student from Hampton County who died in a highly publicized February 2019 boating accident in Beaufort County that involved the now notorious Alex Murdaugh family.

Mark Tinsley, attorney for the Beach family, and Savannah Beach Tuten, Mallory's sister and CEO of Mal's Palz, appeared before the council Monday evening to discuss this public-private partnership, which was described as a "passion project" that is "near and dear to their hearts."

After the unanimous vote and apparent show of support, both expressed their gratitude that Hampton County appeared willing to help support a cause that would have made Mallory, a devoted animal lover, extremely happy."

"I'm grateful council has considered partnering with us, and I look forward to taking the next steps to accomplish our goal of building a new animal shelter," Tuten told The Hampton County Guardian. "Mallory was a huge animal lover and this would mean more to her than you all would ever imagine."

"It is nice to be a part of something that so many people have graciously dedicated so much of their time and effort to, making what was once merely a dream one step closer to becoming a reality," Tinsley added. "A partnership between the county and Mal's Palz makes a lot of sense for everyone, so we're excited and thankful for the opportunity that the council is giving us."

To launch this public-private partnership, Mal's Palz requested that Hampton County make a land donation for the purpose of locating a new animal shelter. Many in county government and the community feel that the current shelter in Varnville is too small and outdated.

In return for this land donation, Mal's Palz would use its funds to build the new shelter, with the county's input and cooperation, then lease the property back to the county under the condition that this facility only be used as an animal shelter.

The resolution also includes a "reverter clause" that stipulates should the property ever cease to be used for the public good for an animal shelter, ownership of the land shall revert back to Hampton County.

During his presentation to Council, Tinsley advised that somewhere between one to three acres of property should be adequate. There should be little or no construction or start-up cost to the county, which could be seen as a great advantage considering Hampton County's current financial plight.

A deputy administrator is already meeting with the county animal control director to begin discussing the county's animal control needs and is "taking it and running with it," said Interim County Administrator Heather Jones.

If this project is completed, Tinsley informed Council, then Mal's Palz would transform its purpose from building a new shelter to hopefully helping fund the operation of the shelter in partnership with the county.

Mallory Beach, Mal's Palz connected to Alex Murdaugh

Beach died Feb. 24, 2019, when a boat owned by now-convicted murderer and confessed fraudster Alex Murdaugh and allegedly piloted by his now-late son, Paul.

Beach's death helped lead to the unraveling of Murdaugh's decade-long financial crime conspiracy and launched criminal investigations and a multitude of lawsuits.

Shortly after Beach's death, her family founded Mal's Palz in her memory and began holding fundraisers to raise money for a new animal shelter, raising roughly $50,000 by the summer of 2023.

After a hotly contested wrongful death suit and nearly four years of legal battles, the Beach family and Mallory's estate were awarded a $15 million settlement and Tinsley, along with fellow counsel, donated in excess of $130,000 of his legal fees to the Mal's Palz foundation.

According to the county resolution, Mal’s Palz has applied to the Internal Revenue Service to become a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

To learn more, or to donate, go to their website at https://www.mals-palz.com/ or follow them on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Hampton County to partner with Mallory Beach-inspired Mal's Palz