Lee Bank Foundation Distributes Final Grant Funding Round of 2022

Print Story | Email Story
LEE, Mass. — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $45,670 to ten Berkshire area organizations for their fourth-round of 2022 community funding.
 
Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support their local programming. Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and culture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audiences.
 
The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:
  • 18 Degrees
  • Berkshire Community Action Council
  • Berkshire County Head Start
  • Berkshire Grown
  • Berkshire Immigrant Center
  • Berkshire Pulse
  • Business Professionals of America, Massachusetts Association
  • Extra Special Teas
  • Latinas 413
  • Literacy Network of South Berkshire
 
The deadline to apply for the first round of 2023 Foundation funding is March 1st. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank's website (https://www.leebank.com/community-impact/donations-sponsorships.html)
 
To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation's primary focus areas:
  • Education and literacy
  • Food security and nutrition
  • Economic growth and development
  • Health and human services
  • Mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives
  • Arts and culture
Applicants are only eligible for funding once in a 12-month period.
 
Lee Bank Foundation was established in 2021 to support Lee Bank's long-standing mission of community reinvestment. In its second year, 2022, the Lee Bank Foundation contributed a total of $248,720 in grants into the community. Since its 2021 inception, the Foundation has distributed 93 grants totaling $477,330.

Tags: lee bank,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

New Canoe Take-out for the Housatonic River in South Lee

LEE, Mass.— In the final days of 2025, a consortium including the State, the Town of Lee, a conservation group, and a private consultant purchased a 4-acre parcel in South Lee for public access and a canoe take-out. 
 
The parcel is located upstream of Willow Mill Dam and opens a reach that has been difficult to access for lack of a safe take-out. 
 
"This project reconnects people to an extraordinary stretch of river and ensures it will remain accessible for generations to come," said Erik Reardon, Berkshire Watershed Director for the Housatonic Valley Association.
 
The run starts at the Lee Athletic Fields, owned and protected by the Town of Lee, then the paddler passes through reserves held by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MassWildlife's Hop Brook Wildlife Management Area, past private Agricultural Preservation Restrictions, and past part of DCR's Beartown State Forest.  
 
"It is a stretch of river that has seen tremendous public investment in land conservation, but until now, it has been difficult for the public to experience and enjoy," said Schroeder.
 
The new access and take-out is located directly upstream from Meadow Street Bridge and is permanently protected for public access. The partners include the Town of Lee, who will own the property; Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and its Division of Fisheries and Wildlife ("MassWildlife"), whose purchase of Conservation Restriction helped make the acquisition possible; the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA); and Narain Schroeder whose consulting firm, Tanager LLC, applied for and received a Community Preservation Grant of  $100,000 for the acquisition. Schroeder donated his time. 
 
"The town is very appreciative of all the individuals and organizations that made this possible. The town will continue to work with these organizations to create parking on the parcel and cut a simple trail to the water," said Town Administrator Chris Brittain. "Plan to get your canoes down from the rafters this spring and come enjoy this magnificent reach of the Housatonic." 
 
View Full Story

More Lee Stories