On Saturday, August 23, the music will matter more than ever.
That’s when Rivers Rutherford returns to the stage at the Keller Pavilion at the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau in Cashiers, joined this year by acclaimed songwriter Tim Nichols, whose credits include the Tim McGraw anthem Live Like You Were Dying. Together with a circle of Nashville talent, they’ll bring stories, lyrics, and laughter to the 19th Annual Songwriters’ Round – a cornerstone fundraising event for the Blue Ridge School Education Foundation.
This isn’t your typical benefit concert. The format is intimate and conversational: just a few musicians, a handful of guitars, and a lifetime of hits. Guests are treated not just to music, but to the stories behind the songs.
“It’s polished like a country club,” says Foundation Vice President Ali Moody, “but it feels like you’re on someone’s back porch.”
The night begins at 6:00 P.M. with a buffet-style barbecue dinner provided by The Local Restaurant in Glenville. Expect pulled pork, traditional fixings, and plenty of seconds. The music starts at 7:30 P.M. A cash bar serving beer and wine keeps the evening festive.
Tickets are $220 per person or $2,200 for a reserved table of 10 and are available at brsfoundation.com/songwriters-round or via the QR code on event materials.
But beyond the entertainment value lies the event’s true purpose: supporting education in a community where it’s needed most. Blue Ridge School is designated as Title I due to the high number of low-income families it serves.
The foundation works to bridge gaps that county funding cannot fill, providing resources that dramatically enhance educational opportunities.
“We try to make sure these kids have the resources that the county won’t fund,” says Chuck Self, Foundation President. The impact is substantial – last year alone, the event raised $60,000 after expenses, and $12,000 in additional donations beyond ticket sales. This marked the biggest net gain in the fundraiser’s 18-year history.
These funds support everything from field trips to Charleston and Washington, D.C., to college scholarships for graduating students. The foundation has equipped every classroom with smart boards and laptop computers, extends beyond basic county provisions to truly lift the educational experience for students, teachers, and staff.
Doors open at 6:00 P.M., but the impact of the evening lasts far beyond the final song. With 490 guests expected, and more than 40 volunteers supporting the effort, it’s a night of music that strikes the right chord – for education, for equity, and for the future.
Pictured | Rivers Rutherford
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