Swim-A-Thon to Benefit Elizabeth Freeman Center

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The 'Swim Chicks' came up with the Swim-A-Thon, which will benefit the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

LENOX, Mass. — The Annie Selke Companies and the Spa at Cranwell are sponsoring a Swim-A-Thon event from April 1 through 20, during which participants can raise pledges based on the distances they swim, walk or jog in the water to benefit the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

The program will end with a one-day Swim-A-Thon at the Spa at Cranwell on Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The idea was inspired by the "Swim Chicks," a group of regular senior non-swimmers who were taking instruction at the spa's indoor pool. Encouraged by Shannon Lasorsa, Cranwell's fitness supervisor who coached them in twice-weekly swim classes, they logged in their own laps and as a group swam 7,172 lengths or 81 miles since October 2012.
 
They imagined connecting their momentum and success to community needs through assisting the efforts of the Elizabeth Freeman Center, a 24-hour, daily community resource addressing domestic and sexual violence in Berkshire County. Their enthusiasm became contagious and the Swim-A-Thon was born.
 
There will be many prizes for various pledge levels including six-month Cranwell Fitness Passports and two $500 Gift Certificate to The Annie Selke Companies, who will also match up to $2,500 of the funds raised. The registration fee is $10 and participants can sign-up at the Spa Desk at Cranwell daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call the Spa at Cranwell at 413-881-0721 or Shannon Lasorsa at 413-881-0732.

Tags: benefit,   elizabeth freeman center,   fundraiser,   

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Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation. 
 
The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.
 
According to a press release:
 
In response to current educational threats with book bans affecting schools and libraries across the country and further proposed legislation against LGBTQ+ people's access to basic rights and education, Simon's Rock is actively seeking to create inclusive and equitable spaces for queer individuals. 
 
The Bard Queer Leadership Project and Alumni Library will utilize the grant funding to expand the library's current collection of queer books in order to fully enable the longevity of the Queer Book Club and the Bard Queer Leadership Project. The Queer Book Club will be an intergenerational space, open to local middle school students through rainbow seniors and will partner with local community organizations, to discuss queer books and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. Bard Queer Leadership Project students will eventually help lead this initiative as part of their leadership project training. 
 
The Queer Book Club will host their first meeting on April 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alumni Library, with following meetings on April 27 and May 11. This semester, the selected books are "Obie is Man Enough" and "He/She/They," both by Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer, who was a guest speaker in the inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum in fall 2023 at Simon's Rock. Schuyler Bailar will return to campus for a book signing and pool party at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Participants in the Queer Book Club will receive a free copy of either book of their choice. 
 
The first Drag Story Time will be on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Simon's Rock Alumni Library and is open to all LGBTQ+ affirming individuals. The event is in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires with local drag queens JV and Poppy DaBubbly. The second Drag Story Time will be Saturday, April 27 with drag queen Poppy DaBubbly and drag king Sativo Green.
 
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