Mill Town Foundation and Pittsfield Public Schools Announce Core Impact Awards

03:38PM / Tuesday, March 18, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Mill Town Foundation, in partnership with Pittsfield Public Schools and with support from the Feigenbaum Foundation, has announced the inaugural Core Impact Awards.

The Core Impact Awards will recognize educators and school staff members in the Pittsfield Public School District who have demonstrated a significant impact on student learning, innovation in education, and community engagement.

The awards will honor one full-time teacher or staff member from each of the 14 schools in the Pittsfield Public School District.

The nomination period will close March 21, 2025. Nominations can be submitted by community members, students, parents, and colleagues using a nomination form.

An independent Selection Committee of community members will review the nominations. Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Student Impact: Evidence of inspiring or improving student outcomes.
Innovation in Teaching: Creative teaching approaches and technology integration.
Community Contributions: Engagement with the school and broader community.
Nomination Quality: Thoughtfulness and depth of the nomination.

The Core Impact Award recipients will be announced in April 2025 and honored at an award ceremony in late May. Honorees will receive a recognition package.

More information on the Core Impact Awards, including how to submit a nomination, can be found at www.milltownfoundation.org.

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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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