The Washington Better Hometown Program was recently awarded $2,818 from the annual BI-LO Charity Classic to help fund the July 4th Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display.

The grocery chain has supported Washington's fireworks celebration for several years.

"We offer our many thanks to BILO's commitment to the City of Washington," said Mayor Willie E. Burns. "We are very proud of our partnership with BI-LO and their generous support of our organization."

Wilkes County leaders traveled to BI-LO offices in Anderson, South Carolina, for the November 7 award.

The BI-LO Charity Classic, now in its 23rd year, has become the largest single-day charity tournament in the country, and has continued to grow each year. BI-LO distributes the funds raised in the tournament to non-profit organizations throughout the Southeast. In its history, the BI-LO Charity Classic has raised more than $33 million for charity.

With headquarters in Mauldin, S.C., BI-LO operates a total of 308 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama under the BILO, Bruno's, Food World, and Food Max banners. The company employs 23,500 people.