Berkshire Family YMCA Gets $1.125M in Grants Toward Renovation

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Family YMCA's Full of Possibilities Campaign announced four new grants totaling $1.125 million to aid in the renovation and construction of its North Street facility. 
 
The $12 million renovation will modernize the building and add 25 or more child-care slots, a regulation youth basketball court, and an indoor track. 
 
The local funders are: 
  • The Feigenbaum Foundation, which awarded the Y a new $350,000 grant in addition to fulfilling their existing $400,000 commitment, bringing their total contribution to $750,000.  
  • The Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust, which made a multi-year commitment of $500,000.  
  • Greylock Federal Credit Union announced a $200,000 award over several years.
In addition to these Berkshire County funders, the Amelia Peabody Foundation, which has supported both the Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire branches in the past, awarded the Y a $75,000 grant, bringing the total of recent institutional gifts to $1.125 million. Taken together, these gifts have taken a major bite out of the Y's remaining $4 million fundraising goal. 
 
According to Y executive director and CEO, Jessie Rumlow, the new commitments will be put to work immediately to fund construction.
 
"We are so grateful to these important institutional donors for their confidence and belief in the Y and this capital project," she said. "The Feigenbaum Foundation's continued investment is most welcome and deeply appreciated, and we sincerely thank the Fitzpatrick Trust for their generosity and ongoing philanthropic leadership in Berkshire County. Greylock Federal Credit Union's grant is living proof that our local financial institutions are deeply committed to our community. Together these grants will help the Y to better serve thousands of people each year and we hope they will inspire many others to give generously too." 
 
Throughout 2022, the Y's campaign leadership will be reaching out to community members for gifts and pledges in order to reach the goal. The Y remains open during construction and welcomes inquiries with regard to the campaign. Interested donors can contact Jessie Rumlow, by emailing jrumlow@bfymca.org or phone at 413-499-7650 x112 or 912-467-3488. Interest may also be expressed to the campaign's committee chair, Matthew J. Scarafoni, by emailing mjscarafoni@scarafonifinancial.com

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North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November. 
 
Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.
 
He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25. 
 
Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street. 
 
The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters. 
 
North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.
 
Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court. 
 
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