More than $300,000 has been given to five local charities by the Ross "Blackie" Talbot (RBT) Charity Classic.

The RBT Charity Classic is an annual charity golf event that took place over March 28 to April 2 this year and for the last 16 years. Overall the RBT Charity Classic has raised $2.5 million for 60 Bermudian charities.

Clement Talbot, Chairman of the RBT Charity Committee, announced in April that he hoped to raise their goal of $300,000 and yesterday presented cheques, totalling $315,000, to the five charities.

He said he was pleased with the overwhelming support he received from the community, which gives them the chance to support the charities.

"This year, being our 16th anniversary, a fund-raising theme of 'Improving the Lives of Our Youth' was established along with an ambitious goal of raising $300,000 to support our five charity recipients," he said.

"It gives me great pleasure to advise we have not only met our goal but in fact we have succeeded it. This success can be attributed to three main factors: increased sponsorship support, the success of our 'Monster raffle' and a record number of golf participants."

Mr. Talbot and Jeanne Atherden, the Chairperson of the Charities Liaison Committee presented a cheque to the Ross "Blackie" Talbot Foundation for $41,000, which will go towards students who wish to pursue music and the arts.

YouthNet and the Bermuda Zoological Society both received $67,000. The Zoological Society will use its money for conservation research and YouthNet plans to develop an advertising campaign to help with their recruitment efforts. YouthNet also plans on enrolling 15 to 20 of their students in a SAT prep course for 2008.

The Ross "Blackie" Talbot Education Awards and The Adult Education School both received $70,000. The Education Awards will help deserving and financially-strapped third and fourth year university students and the Adult Education School helps both youth and adults improve their literacy skills.

Also at the event was Bank of Bermuda CEO, Philip Butterfield. The bank was the lead sponsor in the RBT Charity Classic and Mr. Butterfield said that the charities are "truly are doing God's work".

Ms. Atherden said: "Bermuda really is a diverse society where lots of people can get together for good goals."

Mr. Talbot added: "We find it very rewarding to play a small part in bringing our community together for charitable purposes," and said the Classic will be even bigger next year to mark Bermuda's 400th birthday."