Upcountry Fiber Foundation raises $150,000 for Upstate non-profits at charity golf tournament
November 11, 2026
Upcountry Fiber Foundation, the charitable arm and permanent endowment of Upcountry Fiber, announced that it raised $150,000 at its annual charity golf tournament on October 21 at The Cliffs at Mountain Park. This year’s total surpasses the $133,000 raised at the 2025 tournament. Proceeds will fund grants to local non-profit organizations that make an immediate and direct impact on the people they serve in Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and Northern Greenville counties.
Upcountry Fiber, an internet service provider that brings broadband to rural and other underserved and unserved communities, was created in 2020 through a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative (BREC) and West Carolina. The two organizations launched Upcountry Fiber Foundation in 2022 to extend that commitment beyond connectivity and give back to the Upstate. The foundation funds non-profits working in education, youth, culture, arts, and health and human services, and its permanent endowment is designed to serve residents of the Upcountry Fiber and BREC service territories for generations to come.
“Every dollar raised on that course goes right back into the communities our members call home,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and co-chair of Upcountry Fiber Foundation. “Reaching $150,000 says a great deal about how much this region believes in its neighbors. These funds will help local organizations educate students, mentor young people, care for seniors and keep the arts thriving across the Upstate.”
Grants from the foundation support organizations whose work is felt close to home. Recent recipients include The Dream Center, which helps people in need move toward self-sufficiency; Global Eco Adventures, which immerses Pickens County students in environmental science research; and the Westminster Senior Center, a no-fee community hub where Oconee County seniors stay active and connected to local resources. Funds raised at this year’s tournament will continue that work through future grant cycles.
“A tournament like this only succeeds because of the people who show up for it,” said Chris Townson, CEO of West Carolina and co-chair of Upcountry Fiber Foundation. “We’re grateful to every sponsor, golfer and volunteer who made this year’s event such a success, especially our presenting sponsor, ElectriCom, and to The Cliffs at Mountain Park for hosting us. Their generosity becomes real support for the non-profits that strengthen our communities every single day.”
For more information about Upcountry Fiber Foundation, visit: https://www.upcountryfiber.com/foundation
About Upcountry Fiber Foundation
The Upcountry Fiber Foundation (UFF) is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the philanthropic arm of Upcountry Fiber. Founded in Spring 2022 by Upcountry Fiber’s two governing organizations: Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and West Carolina, UFF established a permanent endowment that will enrich the lives of residents in the Upcountry Fiber and Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative service territories. UFF will proudly offer financial support to philanthropic organizations that serve the community in the interests of education, youth, culture, arts, health, and human services.
About Upcountry Fiber
Upcountry Fiber is a high-speed fiber internet provider to Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Established in Fall 2020, Upcountry Fiber is the product of a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and West Carolina. Founded by organizations created to electrify and connect rural areas of South Carolina; decades later, Upcountry Fiber’s mission is to bridge the digital divide. Offering symmetrical internet speeds up to 1 Gbps over a fiber network, Upcountry Fiber has the fastest and most reliable high-speed internet in the area. To learn more about Upcountry Fiber, visit us at www.UpcountryFiber.com.
