12:58 p.m. - This morning’s 19th Annual High Country Hearts Breakfast at Appalachian Brian Estates raised over $5,000 for the newly opened Community Care Clinic.

The Watauga County Red Cross is very involved in the annual fundraiser.  Executive Director Sonny Sweet said this year, they set a record for the amount of money raised at a single breakfast.

Sweet said, “It was great.  Last year, we did $5,000 on the button and this year the preliminary count is $5,200, so financially it was a big success.”

Sweet said all the money will go to the Community Care Clinic.

The organization opened in 2006 and it works to provide affordable healthcare for uninsured residents.