BCC, Mill Town Partner to Support Philanthropy Through 40 Under Forty

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) and the Mill Town Foundation announced a collaborative effort aimed at promoting philanthropy through the 40 under Forty awardees.
 
For several years, BCC has been organizing the '40 Under Forty' event, an annual celebration honoring 40 young individuals in Berkshire County for their significant contributions to their communities. This year's event, scheduled for March 28, 2024, will go beyond recognition.
 
"The nonprofit organizations of the Berkshires are essential to the way of life here. Giving back to these institutions is not only a way of thanking them, but also a way to promote giving in general," said Berkshire Community College President Ellen Kennedy. "The incredible gift from Mill Town Foundation is an opportunity for 40 Under Forty award recipients to serve as inspiration for a shared movement toward philanthropy across the Berkshires."
 
The Mill Town Foundation has committed funding for each of the 40 Under Forty recipients to re-grant $1,000 to a Berkshire-based nonprofit organization of their choice. This initiative, intended to encourage purposeful giving, prompts the award recipients to thoroughly research local nonprofits to understand their missions and impact before making donation decisions.
 
"To promote and engender the spirit of philanthropy, we are proud to empower the 40 Under Forty recipients with the ability to support their community," said Dave Mixer, founder of Mill Town Foundation. "When young people experience the value of philanthropy first-hand, it becomes an important part of their lives, and they pass it on to future generations. This cycle is critical to the well-being and sustainability of a healthy community."
 
The Mill Town Foundation's philanthropic philosophy emphasizes a thoughtful approach centered on collaboration and sustainability, aligning with BCC's values of engagement, innovation, diversity, inclusion, service, and sustainability.
 
The selected Berkshire County-based nonprofit organizations benefiting from the 40 Under Forty re-grants include a diverse range of entities such as:
  • 18 Degrees
  • 1Berkshire
  • The Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation c/o 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance Foundation
  • 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program
  • African Francophone of the Berkshires
  • Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
  • Berkshire County Arc
  • Berkshire County Kids' Place
  • Berkshire Education and Correction Services, Inc.
  • Berkshire Humane Society
  • Berkshire Immigrant Center
  • Berkshire Nursing Families
  • Berkshire Pride
  • Berkshire United Way
  • BFAIR
  • Boy's and Girls Club of the Berkshires.
  • Community Access to the Arts (CATA)
  • Construct
  • Elder Services of Berkshire County Inc
  • Entrepreneurship for All, Berkshire County
  • Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center
  • Heart & Soil Collective, Inc
  • Lanesborough-New Ashford Dollars for Scholars
  • Love of T Foundation, Inc.
  • NAMI Berkshire County
  • No Paws Left Behind
  • Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
  • Northern Berkshire United Way
  • Stearns Elementary PTA
  • The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • The Pediatric Development Center
  • Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) Berkshires
  • Word X Word Inc. c/o Adelson & Company, PC
The '40 Under Forty' event not only celebrates the professional achievements of the winners but also supports the Berkshire Community College Foundation, which manages scholarships and programs aimed at supporting workforce development and higher education accessibility in the region.
 

Tags: 40 under 40,   BCC,   mill town,   

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Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at The Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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