COVID-19 Fund Partners Award Grants to 'Help the Helpers'

12:44PM / Monday, April 11, 2022Print Story | Email Story

A Becket Athenaeum staff member reads to children. The Athenaeum was one of 23 organizations to receive funding

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Northern Berkshire United Way, and Williamstown Community Chest agreed to Help the Helpers with grants from the Berkshire County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

“These Help the Helpers grants will ensure that over 380 frontline professionals in nonprofits across Berkshire County are seen, appreciated, and celebrated,” said Berkshire United Way President and CEO Tom Bernard. “The proposals we received were well thought out and focused on the unique needs of each organization and team. I’m grateful to our partners who stepped up and recognized the value and impact of each proposal we received.”

Local nonprofits were invited to apply for 16 grants of $500 each to be used toward staff well-being activities. After seeing 23 applications come in, the partners stepped up to fund the gap and award grants for all 23 proposals, ranging from projects focused on team building and staff recognition to wellness and other activities.

In total $11,500 was given out. Click here to see how the grants are being used.

Earlier this year, Berkshire United Way and Northern Berkshire United Way awarded eight childcare programs $500 each to show appreciation for their staff, thanks to funding from United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley through the Childcare Relief Fund.

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Rutledge Defense Seeks Dismissal of Rape Charges Over Statute of Limitations

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:55PM / Thursday, November 12, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Superior Court courtroom was filled on Thursday as proceedings resumed on the high-profile case against former Miss Hall's School teacher Matthew Rutledge, with the court hearing arguments on his motion to dismiss.

Rutledge, 63, was indicted by a Berkshire County grand jury on three counts of rape stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted students at the all-girls school in the 1990s.

On Thursday, Rutledge, represented by attorney Ryan Schiff, appeared before Judge Michael Callahan to seek dismissal of all three counts, arguing that prosecutors were attempting to circumvent the statute of limitations and had failed to disclose what Schiff characterized as "highly exculpatory evidence."

More than 100 attendees filled the pews, some wearing orange carnations to show solidarity with the accusers, Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon.

As Rutledge attempted to leave the courtroom following Judge Callahan's departure, several attendees voiced their outrage, shouting "Shame," "You can't hide behind the bad law," and "We know what you did."

Judge Callahan re-entered the courtroom to condemn these outbursts and directed court officers to record their names and bar them from attending future proceedings on this case.

The nearly hour-long hearing centered on competing interpretations of the language and legislative intent behind Massachusetts' statute of limitations, particularly whether Rutledge's temporary absences from the state could extend the time prosecutors have to bring charges.

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