Berkshire Bank Workers Volunteer for Season of Service

02:41PM / Monday, November 26, 2012Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Bank employees will be volunteering throughout region as part of the bank's first annual Season of Service campaign.

More than 150 employees are expected to participate in the holiday Season of Service effort with all of the community service projects benefiting non-profit organizations and families across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont.

Bank employees are also inviting the public to join with them from Nov. 26 to Dec. 21 to support local children and families in need this holiday season.

"We wanted to do something special to give back to our communities this holiday season," said Lori Gazzillo, assistant vice president of community relations, adding that the financial institution's Employee Volunteer Program is part of its commitment to the community. "Our monthlong Season of Service is an extension of this program and allows us to use our time and talents to have an impact the communities that we serve. We hope our efforts this holiday season will inspire others to give of their time, treasure, and talents to make our communities a better place."

The projects were selected and organized by regional employee volunteer committees, consisting of employees who help oversee the bank's Employee Volunteer Program in their areas under the guidance of the Berkshire Bank Foundation.

In Berkshire County, the program will feature Berkshire Bank branch offices and departments adopting children and families in partnership with the Department of Children & Families' Pittsfield office, which serves all of Berkshire County. In addition to their collection efforts for these local families, bank employees will participate in a variety of service projects including distributing Christmas gifts and food to families with the Salvation Army and teaming up with the Berkshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross to wrap presents and raise funds for the Red Cross' programs at the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough in December.

In 2011, more than half of the bank's employees donated more than 26,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank's service area. The bank also gives nearly $1.5 million annually to nonprofit organizations through the Berkshire Bank Foundation and Berkshire Bank Foundation – Legacy Region.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.

View Full Story