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

Print Story | Email Story

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.


Tags: Berkshire Bank,   nonprofits,   

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

Trial Scheduled for North Adams Woman Accused of Killing Grandmother

Staff reportsiBerkshires

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 2027 trial date is scheduled for a woman accused of killing her grandmother in North Adams four years ago. 

A jury trial for Kelsie Cote is set for May 24, 2027, in Berkshire Superior Court. 

Cote, 30, is alleged to have killed 74-year-old Doris A. Cote, who was found dead with sharp and blunt force injuries in her Church Street, North Adams, home on Nov. 1, 2022. 

Cote has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges: murder, armed assault to murder a person age 60 or older, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon of a person age 60 or older, and one count of withholding evidence from official proceedings.

Hearings for evidence suppression will be held on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. 

A conference to review the case's status was held on Sept. 28. Assistant District Attorney Marianne Shelvey, representing the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office, filed a motion to impound certain documents, which was allowed by Judge Maureen Hogan. 

Cote is represented by attorney Kevin Joseph Reddington, who is also the defense lawyer for Lindsay Clancy, a Duxbury woman accused of killing her three children in 2023. Cote's case has reportedly been delayed because of the seven-week Clancy trial in Plymouth County, which ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Reddington told the court he seeks to suppress Cote's statements because he argues she was not read her Miranda rights, and that he will file motions to suppress evidence found during the execution of a search warrant, arguing that the police did not have probable cause. 

Allegations include: 

  • On or about Oct. 26 and on Nov. 1, Cote allegedly altered, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed a record, document, or other object or attempted to do so to impair the record, document, or object's integrity for use in an official proceeding. 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories