Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards 40 Scholarships

06:08PM / Wednesday, August 17, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five Berkshire students and one from Rowe were among the 40 students in New England and New York State awarded Berkshire Bank scholarships.

The students are: Lillian Rose Boudreau of Adams, Sean O'Dea of Rowe and Vivian Leona Berard, Samantha Depson, Leila Fiana Paredes and Victoria Maria Tynan, all of Pittsfield.

Each student will receive $2,500 as NeXt Gen Scholar to support their pursuit of an undergraduate degree from an accredited non-profit college or technical school. Eighty-one Berkshire Bank employees volunteered to help select the winners from over 150 applications.

A total of $100,000 in scholarships were awarded for this year.

"We are so pleased to continue offering these scholarships, as we have for the past 14 years, to help make the dream of higher education a reality for students in the communities we serve," said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, director of the bank's foundation. "We feel education is important to economic prosperity, and it should be available and accessible to all. We congratulate our NeXtGen Scholars and look forward to seeing their future accomplishments."

NeXt Gen Scholars are expected to embody academic excellence, while also sharing Berkshire Bank's strong dedication to community service and volunteerism. Additional details on the foundation's grant and scholarship programs can be found here.

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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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