UPSTATE — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative presented checks to four Pickens area charities from the 22nd annual Blue Ridge Fest.

Pickens County Meals on Wheels, The Dream Center of Pickens County, the Cancer Association of Pickens County and Feed a Hungry Child of Pickens County each received $17,000 from Blue Ridge Electric’s annual fundraising event.

Blue Ridge Fest attracted nearly 8,000 attendees and more than 400 classic cars from across the Southeast to benefit 12 local charities in the cooperative’s four-county service area.

Since the inception of Blue Ridge Fest more than two decades ago, the event has raised nearly $3 million for Upstate charitable organizations.