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Berkshire United Way President and CEO Candace Winkler joins Miraval Berkshires General Manager Vic Cappadona at the gong in the reflection garden at the Lenox resort on Monday, Sept. 21, World Gratitude Day.

Berkshire United Way, Miraval Offer Getaway to Essential Worker

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LENOX, Mass. — Berkshire United Way and Miraval Berkshires have teamed up to honor an essential worker or first responder on the front lines of relief efforts in Berkshire County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Berkshire United Way, which has helped provide relief grants to nonprofit organizations helping the most vulnerable populations throughout the pandemic, has created an online nomination form here. Self-nominations will be accepted and individuals may also request a nomination form by emailing info@berkshireunitedway.org.
 
Nominations are currently open and the deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. Submissions will be pooled together and one recipient will be selected at random. The person selected will receive a four-day, three-night all-expenses-paid wellness getaway for two guests, including food and experiences, at Miraval Berkshires' newly opened resort in Lenox, the former Cranwell. The recipient and their guest must be 18 years or older and the offer is valid for 12 months (black-out dates apply).
 
"Throughout this pandemic, we have recognized the challenges and triumphs our essential workers have experienced," said Candace Winkler, president and CEO of Berkshire United Way, in a statement. "Today is the perfect day to launch this exciting endeavor to find a well-deserving recipient with this generous offering from Miraval Berkshires. As a new business here, we are happy to partner with them on this effort."
 
Each year on Sept. 21, the world celebrates the mindful practice of gratitude. Miraval Resorts & Spas' locations in the Berkshires, Miraval Arizona in Tucson and Miraval Austin in Texas held a special sound healing gong ceremony live on Instagram on Monday. This year, Miraval celebrates and honors first responders and essential workers around the world by giving back to those that have supported their communities through COVID-19.
 
"This Gratitude Day, we want to show our deep appreciation to those who have selflessly given their time, talents and resources to ensure the health and safety of their local communities,” said Susan Santiago, head of Lifestyle & Miraval operations. "We are proud to partner with Berkshire United Way — an esteemed organization whose dedication to building a stronger community deeply resonates with Miraval and its guests — to honor the community's heroic essential workers with the gift of well-being and healing."
 
In the spirit of gratitude, Miraval Berkshires has also offered a three-day, two-night wellness getaway to incentivize participation in Berkshire United Way's annual campaign for 2020-2021, which includes more than 140 workplaces.
 
Donors are the backbone of Berkshire United Way's fundraising efforts to support community partners and to respond to emerging needs in times of crisis. Donors have helped BUW improve the quality of life for children, youth and families right here in the Berkshires for 96 years.

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

Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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