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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LitNet Opens Pittsfield Location, Seeks Tutors

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

LitNet has been serving English language learners for 35 years.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For 35 years, the nonprofit Literacy Network has helped adult learners, particularly immigrants, build English and literacy skills, and its new Pittsfield location makes these services more accessible than ever.
 
Last week, Literacy Network, also referred to as LitNet, started expanding into its new space in Crawford Square, located at 37 North St.
 
While LitNet primarily serves Spanish-speaking adults, it also works with learners who speak Portuguese, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Eastern European languages such as Ukrainian and Russian.
 
The organization is maintaining its offices on Park Street in Lee. Executive Director Leigh Doherty said the added 1,500 square feet of space will allow the program to expand upon many of the things it has been doing for years.
 
The space will serve as a public tutoring hub in Central Berkshire, offering rooms for one-on-one tutoring, classes and workshops, and a welcoming area for learners to read and study. The larger, more visible location will also allow for expanded evening and weekend hours, making it easier for learners and tutors to connect and for community members to discover the program. 
 
Popular workshops include an English for business class, an advanced English book club, and an idioms and slang class to learn the nuances of English, Doherty said. "We listen to our learners."
 
The feedback the adult learners provide based on their need has helped shape the programs classes and services, she said. 
 
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