PICKENS — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions have announced that the 19th annual Blue Ridge Fest, held earlier this month, raised a record-breaking amount of $201,000 to benefit local nonprofit organizations in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

This is the first year the employee organized and executed event surpassed the $200,000 mark. Since the event’s inception, almost two decades ago, Blue Ridge Fest has donated more than $2.2 million to numerous agencies in the Upstate area.

This year a number of nonprofits received funds from Blue Ridge Fest. The 2016 beneficiaries include Cancer Association of Anderson, Collins Children’s Home & Ministries, Center for Developmental Services, Dot’s Kitchen, Emerson Rose Heart Foundation, Feed A Hungry Child, Foothills Alliance, North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry, Rosa Clark Medical Center, Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County, The Dream Center of Pickens County and Wilderness Way Camp School.

Representatives from both Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions will host check presentations later this month for each nonprofit organization receiving funds.

“This year’s Blue Ridge Fest reached a long-time goal, allowing us to support our community at a very high level,” president and CEO Charles Dalton said.