EforAll Plans In-Person Pitch Contest

08:10AM / Tuesday, November 02, 2021Print Story | Email Story

Winner of first EforAll Pitch Contest, Kaitlyn Pierce

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County is holding an "All Ideas Pitch Contest" on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

The program will be held at Crissey Farm. 426 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington from 5:30-8pm.

The venue requires proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of the event.

EforAll held two in-person Pitch Contests at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield in October 2019 and at The Green in North Adams in February 2020, attracting over 100 community members for each event and dozens of participants. (3 virtual Pitch Contests were also held during Covid.)

EforAll's family-friendly, free event features networking, a business showcase, a light dinner and then pitches from 8 contestants.

Each participant is given 2.5 minutes to pitch a business or non-profit idea to a panel of judges and the audience. At the end of it, EforAll gives away seed money to help launch these ideas. The first place finisher wins $1,000; second place $750; third place $500; and audience favorite $500.

Pre-registration is required at: http://bit.ly/Attend_PitchContest

Business startups (whether or not they participate in the Pitch Contest) are encouraged to apply for Berkshire County's next Accelerator in Spring 2022. This free 12-week intensive training program is taught by community mentors and volunteers who lend their expertise and experience to these budding entrepreneurs.

Tags: entrepreneurs,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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