Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards More Than $200,000 To County Nonprofits

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Berkshire Bank Foundation has awarded $202,416 in grants and pledges to 41 non-profit organizations in Berkshire County during its third quarter grants cycle.  

Some of the organizations receiving support include the Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Innovation Center, Pittsfield Public Schools, Literacy Network of Southern Berkshire, The Christian Center, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Railroad Street Youth Project, the Dalton CRA and Construct Inc.

·  Berkshire Museum based in Pittsfield received a grant to support their educational programs for local schools.

·  Berkshire Innovation Center based in Pittsfield received a grant to support their internship incentive program, which will help businesses hire interns to work in important STEM fields with the goal of retaining them after college.

· Pittsfield Public Schools based in Pittsfield received a grant to support BRIDGE mentoring programs Happiness Toolbox.

· Literacy Network of Southern Berkshire based in Lee received a grant to support their new tutor training program.

· The Christian Center based in Pittsfield received a grant to support the WestSide Children’s Enrichment program.


· Elder Services of Berkshire County based in Pittsfield received a grant to support their Meals on Wheels program.

· Elizabeth Freeman Center based in Pittsfield  received a grant to support their annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event and Money School program.

· Railroad Street Youth Project based in Great Barrington received a grant to support their Railroad Street Apprenticeship program.

· Dalton CRA based in Dalton received a grant to support their CRA/DYC Youth programming.

· Construct, Inc. based in Great Barrington  received a grant to support The Project Home Collaborative.

“We are proud to support these non-profit organizations in the important work that they are doing to contribute to the economic and educational vitality of the communities that we serve," Lori Gazzillo, vice president and Foundation director. said. "We are proud to play a small role in all of their efforts and look forward to working together to make our communities stronger.”

In addition to financial support, the XTEAM, the Bank’s nationally acclaimed Employee Volunteer Program, provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. In 2014, over 70 percent of Berkshire Bank’s employees provided more than 40,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank’s service area. The volunteer program is another way for the bank to give back to the communities where it does business. In recognition of their work in the community, Berkshire Bank has received more than two dozen awards and accolades, most recently being named by the Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts Most Charitable Companies for the third consecutive year.


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Local Runners Compete at Boston Marathon

BOSTON, Mass. -- Laura Stephen of Great Barrington finished 26th in the women's 60-64 age group at Monday's Boston Marathon, the top Berkshire County finisher in their division at the 128th running of the event.
 
Stephen crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds, 12,633rd in the overall field of more than 30,000 runners who made the trek from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston.
 
More than a dozen Berkshire County residents are listed among the finishers on the Boston Athletic Association website.
 
The fastest of that group was Dalton's Alex White, who finished in 2:38:34 to place 358th overall and 291st among men aged 18 to 39.
 
The race was won by Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia in 2:06.17. Kenya's Hellen Obiri was the fastest woman in the field, hitting the tape in 2:22:37.
 
Berkshire County finishers, with time and position in their age group, included:
 
Nicole Armbrust, Williamstown, 3:47:11, 683rd
Jon Bakija, Williamstown, 3:39:43, 584th
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