A number of Blue Ridge Security Solutions employees were on hand for a special Blue Ridge Fest check presentation to Anderson Interfaith Ministries. AIM is one of 12 2015 Fest charity recipients and received a check for $14,500. Representing Blue Ridge were Leigh Snow, Brent Cessarich, Alona Howell, Jimmy Billings, and Judy Keenan. Accepting on behalf of Anderson Interfaith Ministries were Executive Director Kristi King-Brock, Development Coordinator Christie Eller, and Director of Development Laura Capell.

Darren Brezeale from Blue Ridge Security Solutions recently presented a check in the amount of $14,500 to Developmental Center for Exceptional Children. Executive Director Liz Baysden and LPN Cathy Vaughn and many of their special children accepted the check on the Center’s playground.

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employee Tony Kelley recently presented a Blue Ridge Fest check in the amount of $15,500 to The Dream Center of Pickens County. The Dream Center earned an extra $1,000 for selling the most Fest raffle tickets of the 12 check recipients. Accepting on behalf of the Dream Center were Founders, Chris and Jim Wilson, along with board members and volunteers for the center including Tom and Venetta Berenz, Mike Caldwell, Diane Porter, Petrina Matonis, Amanda Taylor, and Shannon Leatherwood. Also on hand for the check presentation were Blue Ridge Fest corporate sponsors, Randy Harrison of American Services, Andy Pickens of AP Design LLC, WYFF President & General Manager John Soapes, and WYFF Chief Meteorologist John Cessarich.

Summer Mast, family assessment worker of The Parenting Place-Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County, recently received proceeds from Blue Ridge Fest in the amount of $14,500. Joining in the check presentation from left to right were Blue Ridge Fest corporate sponsors, Neal Workman and Will Huss of Trehel Corporation, Angie Case of Case Interior Design Group, Rep. Davey Hiott, and Eric McCollum of Deep South Defense. Presenting the check on behalf of Blue Ridge were Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Carla Stone, Mark McCall and Terry Ballenger.

Tobias Vogel, executive director of Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, was recently presented a Blue Ridge Fest check in the amount of $14,500 by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employee Beverly Crenshaw. On hand for the check presentation were Blue Ridge Fest corporate sponsors Tom Crumpton, Teresa Owens, Daniel Brazinski and Judy Gillespie of Cornell Dubilier Electronics Inc., and Tommy Bearden of Bearden Landscaping.

At left, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Kandy Brooks and Alan Stephens recently presented a Blue Ridge Fest check in the amount of $14,500 to United Christian Ministries Executive Director Teresa Nash, at far right. Joining in the check presentation were Blue Ridge Fest corporate sponsors including Hal Ruble of Quality Inspection Services and Craig Ragsdale, Will Ragsdale and Bill Ragsdale of Martin Printing Company Inc.

PICKENS – Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions recently announced that the 18th annual Blue Ridge Fest held May 8 raised a total of $185,000 to benefit local non-profit organizations in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

Since the event’s inception almost a decade ago, Blue Ridge Fest has donated more than $2 million to numerous agencies in the Upstate area that provide individuals with basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and health care.

In addition, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is celebrating their 75th anniversary in August.

This year, the charities included Anderson Interfaith Ministries, Developmental Center for Exceptional Children, Dot’s Kitchen of Westminster, Fair Play Camp School, Hidden Treasure Christian School and North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry.

Also receiving proceeds were Oconee Presbyterian Service Fund, Rosa Clark Medical Clinic, Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, The Dream Center of Pickens County, The Parenting Place-Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County and United Christian Ministries.

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. The 2016 Blue Ridge Fest has been scheduled for May 6, 2016, at the cooperative’s headquarters in Pickens.