June 6, 2018
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce that the 21st annual Blue Ridge Fest, held on May 4, 2018, raised a record breaking amount of $225,000 to benefit local non-profit organizations in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties. Since the event’s inception, Blue Ridge Fest will have more than $2.7 million to local human help organizations that provide individuals with basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and health care.
The charities receiving funds in 2018 include: A Call to Action, Anderson Free Clinic, Center for Developmental Services, Collins Children’s Home, The Dream Center of Pickens County, Fair Play Camp School, Feed a Hungry Child, Hospice of the Upstate, The Lachlan McIntosh Tannery Foundation, Miracle Hill Children’s Home, North Greenville Crisis Ministry, and Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County.
Representatives from Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative will host check presentations later this month for each non-profit organization receiving funds.
“We are so thankful for the local organizations and individuals that have supported Blue Ridge Fest over the years and allowed us to give back to highly deserving charities in our community,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO. “In addition, we are very proud of our employees for donating countless hours to plan the Fest. We look forward to seeing the impact these funds have in our community and distributing the checks later this month.”
The annual festival, which boasts the Upstate’s largest classic-car cruise-in along with a beach night show and dance, attracted more than 6,000 attendees in 2018. Featured entertainment for the 2018 festival boasts beach music, Motown and classic rock ‘n roll headliners from the late 50s and mid-60s. The festival’s lineup includes The Spinners, Jim Quick and the Coastline, and Magic. Blue Ridge Fest is organized and executed by 250 Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Security employee volunteers, enabling the festival to maximize its proceeds to benefit local charities.
For more information, visit blueridgefest.com or call (800) 240-3400.
About Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., established in 1940, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that services more than 65,000 members in the Upstate of South Carolina. The cooperative supplies electric service in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Blue Ridge started operations with 1,680 members inherited from the South Carolina Rural Electrification Authority, which was formed over 76 years ago with the specific task of electrifying the state’s rural areas.
