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2007 Blue Ridge Fest Charities are awarded $130,000

Blue Ridge Security employees Leigh Hemphill and Renee McCall join General Manager Jim Lovinggood in presenting a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 to Anderson Interfaith Ministries Executive Director Kristy King-Brock. Anderson Interfaith Ministries provides assistance to the less fortunate in Anderson County.

When the last motorcycle pulls out on Saturday afternoon of Blue Ridge Fest, volunteers anxiously await news of how much money was raised for this year's selected charities. The news was certainly good in 2007, with $130,000 as the final count. Early in August checks were given to local community charities, representing their part of the proceeds.

As you can see from the previous two pages, there are a large number of people responsible for the success of Blue Ridge Fest. The obvious groups are the sponsors who support the event year after year and the volunteers, most of them employees of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security or their family members. But Blue Ridge Fest would

Jim Lovinggood, General Manager of Blue Ridge Security, along with Fest sponsor Becky Busby (third from right) of Systems Distributors, Inc., present Fay Brown of Foothills Alliance a Blue Ridge Fest check in the amount of $10,000. Also present from left to right are Foothills Alliance employees Sanquinita Martin, Alisa Strack, Kim Durham, Christy Williamson and Shirley McNabb. Foothills Alliance provides prevention, intervention and support services for abused children and victims of sexual assault in Anderson and Oconee counties.

still not be a success without the people who come to enjoy the weekend-classic-car owners and enthusiasts, beach-music fans, motorcyclists, and all the others who come just to have a good time.

Blue Ridge President and CEO Charles Dalton thanks them all: "The total we raised this year is a tribute to all the many people who see the importance of Blue Ridge Fest in our community. We love sponsoring this event because so many people come each year and spend hours just enjoying the cars, the bands and the motorcycles. But when it's over, you have to feel good about all the people who will be helped. When our sponsors and charities come together for the check presentations, the stories are told about what a hard time people are having and how the money will be spent. That's the real meaning behind Blue Ridge Fest."

Gleaning House Ministries Administrator Esther Corn, center, is presented a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 by Blue Ridge Electric employees Elaine Banks and Sam McMillan, far right. Gleaning House board members and volunteers, Diana and Jerry Hancock, were also on hand for the presentation.

Charities receiving checks this year included Anderson Interfaith Ministries, Foothills Alliance, Gleaning House Ministries, Helping Hands of Clemson, Hidden Treasure Christian School, Hospice of the Upstate, Oconee Crisis Center, Sabrina House Children's Charity, Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, SHINE, SHARE in Oconee County and United Christian Ministries. The outpouring of thanks from these charities is automatic. John McCormick from Hidden Treasure writes, "Your gifts certainly encourage our staff and students, but the benefits of your generosity overflow into the lives of many other. Meeting the variety of needs represented in our student body is a family effort and the parents, grandparents, and siblings of our students are also people you

L to R: Shane Smith of Community First Bank, a Blue Ridge Fest sponsor, joins Blue Ridge Electric employees Carol Emmons and Beverly Crenshaw in presenting a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 to Jennifer Barbour, facility director of Helping Hands of Clemson. Also assisting with the check presentation are Lori Kelley and Fred Sheppard of Community First Bank. Helping hands offers an emergency home for abused and/or neglected children from across the state, as well as a home for troubled youth that serves as an alternative to incarceration.

influence through your support."

Regina Reece, executive director for Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County expresses thanks on behalf of her organization, "Working for a non-profit organization can be very rewarding but it can also be very challenging, especially when it comes to raising money. This donation will help so many who are in need." United Christian Ministries executive director Teresa Nash adds, "Here at UCM we are currently seeing such hard times for many individuals. The gas prices, grocery prices, and hot weather that affect us all hit those living in poverty the hardest. The funds we were awarded came at a much needed time."

You're invited to be a part of the experience of Blue Ridge Fest 2008. The dates will be May 9-10. We hope you'll come for the fun, but

L to R: Renee McCall and Jim Lovinggood of Blue Ridge Security, along with Donna Carmen, sales employee of Blue Ridge Fest sponsor Harley-Davidson of Greenville and Dave Bunce also representing Blue Ridge Security, present Dr. John McCormick, administrator of Hidden Treasure Christian School, a fest proceeds check for $10,000. Brett McCall of Blue Ridge Electric assisted in the check presentation. Hidden Treasure Christian School provides a balanced and appropriate education for Upstate children with mental, physical, and learning disabilities.

we also hope you'll come back every year just because by being there, you'll help someone else.

L to R: Danny Aderhold, Blue Ridge Electric employee, and Jim Lovinggood, Blue Ridge Security employee, present a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 to Pam Melbourne, CEO of Hospice of the Upstate. Fest sponsor Coleman Kirven of Palmetto Bank assisted in the presentation. Hospice of the Upstate provides compassionate high-quality care to terminally ill patients and their families, while at the same time offering community leadership and education regarding end-of-life issues.

L to R: Blue Ridge Electric employee Sammy Dickson, joined by Blue Ridge Fest sponsor Bobby Edwards of Edwards Auto Sales, presents Dave McCutcheon of Oconee Crisis Center a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000. Also assisting with the check presentation are fest sponsors Allison Strickland of Southeastern Wood Pole Inspectors and Bob Edwards of Edwards Auto Sales. Cecil Hubbard, employee of Blue Ridge Electric, and Fest sponsor Gary Butts with WGOG 96.3 were also on hand for the presentation. The Oconee Crisis Center assists Oconee County residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week with emergency assistance services.

On behalf of Sabrina House Children's Charity, founder Sabrina House proudly accepts a $10,000 Blue Ridge Fest check for the charity named for her, a cancer survivor. In attendance for the check presentation are left to right, Jimmy Gravely, Sabrina House, Randall Lynch, Randy Brown, and Pam Broughton, all Sabrina House Children's Charity board members along with Billy House, board president. Also present for the presentation was Jayvonte Williams and his mother, Janice Williams. Jayvonte is a patient at the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center of Greenville. The center is supported by this charity through financial and emotional assistance for both the patients and their families, especially at Christmastime, providing happiness and hope for children with cancer. David Collins, employee of Blue Ridge Electric, and fest sponsor Mark Martines of Sumter Utilities also participated in the presentation.

Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County Director Regina Reece is presented a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 by Blue Ridge Fest sponsors, Tommy Bearden (far left) of Bearden Landscaping and Bart Turner (far right) of Peoples National Bank. Representing Blue Ridge Electric are employees David Collins and Michelle Watson.

Alan Blackmon (far left) and Randall Lynch (center), employees of Blue Ridge Electric, present a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 to Judy Burns, director of SHINE, who is joined by SHINE board members, left to right, Karen Cooper, Senator Nell Smith, Bucky Crane, and Dr. George Smith. SHINE provides a nutritious meal every evening to the hungry of Pickens County.

L to R: Blue Ridge Fest sponsors Bert and Tina Pierce of Pierce Grading and Hauling, along with Blue Ridge Electric employees Amy Craig, Rex Ramsay and Ed Tompkins, present a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000 to Helen James (center), case manager for SHARE of Oconee County. Greg Sluder of Sluder Urban Forestry, another Blue Ridge Fest sponsor, assisted in the check presentation. SHARE provides emergency assistance to low-income families, the elderly, and the handicapped in Oconee County.

L to R: Blue Ridge Fest sponsor, Representative Davey Hiott of Hiott Printing, assists Elaine Banks and Terry Ballenger, Blue Ridge Electric employees, in presenting Teresa Nash, executive director of United Christian Ministries, a Blue Ridge Fest check for $10,000. United Christian Ministries supplies direct aid to the less fortunate in Pickens County.