PICKENS — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Michelle Watson, Terry Ballenger and Mark McCall presented a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest to Dream Center of Pickens County.

Accepting the check on behalf of the organization was Executive Director and Founder Chris Wilson. Also in attendance was Blue Ridge Fest sponsor Andy Pickens of Andrew Pickens Design.

New 7 WSPA, also a Fest sponsor, featured the check presentation live on Your Carolina in their studio. WSPA 7 News representatives included Jamarcus Gaston, Jennifer Martin, Jack Roper, Barbara Godfrey and James Crout.

Helping Hands of Clemson

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Ashely Anthony and David Collins presented Helping Hands of Clemson a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest.

Accepting the check on behalf of the organization is Executive Director, Jennifer Barbour, and Director of Development, Leigh Kennemore. Also in attendance were Blue Ridge Fest sponsors Evan Cantrell of RSCT Architecture & Design, LLC, Neal Workman of Trehel Corporation, and Brenda Rabun and Matt Gross of Founders Federal Credit Union.

Feed a Hungry Child Pickens County

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Randall Lynch, Amy Lark, Zach Hinton, Leigh Snow and Jennifer Robinson presented Feed a Hungry Child of Pickens County a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest.

Accepting the check on behalf of the organization were Millage Cassell and Kathy Brazinski. Also in attendance were Blue Ridge Fest sponsors James Daley and Bill Kirkpatrick of Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Storie Edwards of Solid Gold, and Carol Dyches-Adams of Case Interior Design. In addition, Senator Rex Rice and Representative Davey Hiott joined in the presentation.

United Christian Ministries

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative employees Yancey Anders and Michelle Watson presented United Christian Ministries a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest.

Accepting on behalf of the organization was Executive Director, Teresa Nash. Also in attendance were many Blue Ridge Fest sponsors Tony Cvetko of Intergral Solutions Group, Beverly Pressley of South State Bank, and Bill Ragsdale and Will Ragsdale of Martin Printing Company. Representative Neal Collins also joined in the presentation.

Since the inception of Blue Ridge Fest, the event has raised nearly $2.5 million for Upstate charitable organizations.

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented United Christian Ministries a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right: Tony Cvetko, Beverly Pressley, Yancy Anders, Michelle Watson, Teresa Nash, Bill Ragsdale, Will Ragsdale, and Representative Neal Collins.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_blueridgechecksunitedchristian.jpgBlue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented United Christian Ministries a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right: Tony Cvetko, Beverly Pressley, Yancy Anders, Michelle Watson, Teresa Nash, Bill Ragsdale, Will Ragsdale, and Representative Neal Collins. Courtesy photos

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest to Dream Center of Pickens County. Pictured from left to right are Michelle Watson, Terry Ballenger, Jamarcus Gaston, Jennifer Martin, Jack Roper, Barbara Godfrey, James Crout, Chris Wilson and Andy Pickens.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_blueridgechecksdreamcenter.jpgBlue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest to Dream Center of Pickens County. Pictured from left to right are Michelle Watson, Terry Ballenger, Jamarcus Gaston, Jennifer Martin, Jack Roper, Barbara Godfrey, James Crout, Chris Wilson and Andy Pickens. Courtesy photos

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented Feed a Hungry Child of Pickens County a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right: Representative Davey Hiott, Carol Dyches-Adams, Storie Edwards, Senator Rex Rice, Bill Kirkpatrick, James Daley, Randall Lynch, Milledge Cassell, Kathy Brazinski, Amy Lark, Zach Hinton, Leigh Snow and Jennifer Robinson.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_blueridgechecksfeedhungry.jpgBlue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented Feed a Hungry Child of Pickens County a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right: Representative Davey Hiott, Carol Dyches-Adams, Storie Edwards, Senator Rex Rice, Bill Kirkpatrick, James Daley, Randall Lynch, Milledge Cassell, Kathy Brazinski, Amy Lark, Zach Hinton, Leigh Snow and Jennifer Robinson. Courtesy photos

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented Helping Hands of Clemson a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right are David Collins, Ashley Anthony (seated), Evan Cantrell, Neal Workman, Brenda Rabun, Jennifer Barbour (seated), Matt Gross and Leigh Kennemore.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_blueridgecheckshelpinghands.jpgBlue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented Helping Hands of Clemson a check totaling $17,000 from the 20th annual Blue Ridge Fest. Pictured from left to right are David Collins, Ashley Anthony (seated), Evan Cantrell, Neal Workman, Brenda Rabun, Jennifer Barbour (seated), Matt Gross and Leigh Kennemore. Courtesy photos

Staff Report