Lee Bank Foundation Distributes Final Grant Funding Round of 2023

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LEE, Mass. — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $46,300 to ten Berkshire area organizations for their final-round of 2023 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 to support their local programming.
 
The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:
  • 18 Degrees
  • Barrington Stage Company
  • Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
  • Berkshire Community Action Council
  • Berkshire Grown
  • Berkshire Immigrant Center
  • Berkshire Innovation Center
  • Construct
  • EforAll
  • WAM Theatre
The deadline to apply for the first round of 2024 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
Applicants are only eligible to receive grant 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 third year, 2023, the Lee Bank Foundation contributed a total of $171,800 in grants into the community. Since its 2021 inception, the Foundation has distributed 129 grants totaling $650,330.

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Ninja Playground in Lee Begins Construction, Seeking Sponsors

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
LEE, Mass. — After almost two years of fundraising and planning, the Neighborhood Ninjas playground will soon begin construction. 
 
Many teens and adults have memories of running and climbing at a playground, but as they grow up, they age out of the equipment, often geared to kids 12 and under, Neighborhood Ninjas Executive Director Alex Katz said. 
 
The nonprofit Neighborhood Ninjas has worked to create something that kids can grow into, allowing teens, adults, and seniors to rediscover the love for play, including the nostalgic game, the floor is lava, she said. 
 
The 15 ninja-style obstacles, including cargo nets, rope climbs, cliffhangers, ascending monkey bars, and more set on accessible, cushioned playground turf called Forever Lawn designed  with a 15-foot safety critical fall height in mind, Katz said. 
 
The initiative also helps address social isolation, especially in teens, and the lack of free recreation, which is a need many communities are experiencing, including Berkshire County. 
 
The Neighborhood Ninjas park is more than a playground; it's a catalyst to bring the families and community together to build on physical and mental health, Katz said. 
 
Neighborhood Ninjas was founded in 2018 by a team of American Ninja Warrior athletes and is made up of social workers, educators, and Ninja Warrior coaches. 
 
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