U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was the keynote speaker at the organization's annual meeting. But the real headliner was the Kids 4 Harmony musicians.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Children and Families celebrated its 126th anniversary on Thursday with an eye toward becoming even more supportive of local families.

 

The organization held its annual meeting at the Country Club of Pittsfield with an array of political and business guests. The organization has provided Western Massachusetts families with early childhood care, adoption and parenting programs for decades.

 

But, this year, the group has taken another step to become more proactive in helping the community instead of being reactive — and that has begun with the "Kids 4 Harmony" music program.

 

"This is an opportunity to start early, before the problems happen," President Carolyn Burns said. "Kids 4 Harmony goes a quantum leap forward."

 

The program teaches classical music to schoolchildren.

 

Burns said Berkshire Children and Families' future includes expanding deeper into the community, rather than extending beyond the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley, which it already services. Inspired by the Harlem Children's Zone, the organization launched the after-school music program to help instill passion and study in younger children.

 

"We can create the conditions to be successful," Burns said.

 

A total of 53 students from kindergarten through seventh grade participate in the Pittsfield program. But, officials envision that growing. Unlike responding to when "bad things" happen, this program is open to all students.

 

"Leadership means going beyond providing services to people after bad things have happened," Burns said.

 

The organization is also offering is a rowing program through Redfield House, a transitional home for young mothers. That program, too, aims to solve problems before they occur.

 

Catharine Deely, board chairman, says the organization is keeping a close eye on funding for social services.

"That's kind of a prevention program," Burns said.

 

Moving forward, the organization welcomed Catharine Deely as the new board chairman. Deely, a marketing and communications consultant and a trustee of the 1Berkshire Foundation, said the organization will be cautious moving forward because the organization is heavily dependent on state funds. 

 

But, she hopes to see the number of private donors increase.

 

"We have to watch very carefully what's happening in funding for social services," Deely said. 

 

In the immediate future, she said the organization is going to look to safeguard funding for  programs while evaluating all of its operations. 

 

Deely was attracted to the organization because of its adoption programs and she has set a goal of increasing the number of foster families.

 

Thursday's annual meeting featured Mayor Daniel Bianchi and state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli speaking in support of the organization's programs. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was the keynote speaker.