2026 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards Honorees Chosen

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, has announced the names of 7 honorees receiving recognition at the 9th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on May 19.

The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards recognize the accomplishments and dedication of the people who work in the nonprofit sector.

A panel of 22 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors deliberated via Zoom to choose honorees in each of 7 categories from among over 65 nominations. The honorees are: 

Board Leadership: 

Liliana Atanacio/ Latinas413

Executive Leadership: 

Sabrina Allard/ Railroad Street Youth Project

Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership: 

Gloria Williams/ R.O.P.E. & Price Memorial AME Zion Church

Rock Star:

Jennifer Golin/ Child Care of the Berkshires

 Unsung Hero:

Kathryn Benson/ Berkshire Food Project

Volunteer:

Lisa Alberti/ Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County

Lifetime Achievement:

Cathy Marchetto, RN/ Berkshire Health Systems

"If there was ever a year that revealed the true impact and necessity of our Berkshire County nonprofits, this was it. From food insecurity and housing shortages to disruptions in healthcare and challenges facing our arts and cultural organizations, so many in our community have felt the strain—and witnessed the unwavering commitment of those working behind the scenes to meet it," said Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Associate Director McCaela Donovan. "On May 19, with the support of our sponsors, NPC will honor seven of these dedicated and creative leaders who continue to inspire their organizations and strengthen our communities. We hope you’ll join us for an uplifting morning as we come together to express our deep gratitude for the nonprofit sector and all who sustain it."

The 2026 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards are made possible by  sponsors: Adams Community Bank, Acrisure/Toole Insurance, 1Berkshire, Beacon Bank, The Berkshire Eagle, Berkshire Healthcare Systems, Berkshires Tomorrow Inc/Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, BlackRock/Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Doctor Sax House, Feigenbaum Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust, Keiter Construction, Liz Albert Fundraising, Mazzone Hospitality, Mungy Design, NBT Bank, Pryjma Petals, Renaissance Investment Group, Tricia McCormack Photography, Warrior Trading and the Wright Collective. 

The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards breakfast will take place on May 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Country Club of Pittsfield. The celebration will feature breakfast and networking, a performance by hip hop artist Jackson Whalan, and presentation of awards. NPC founder Liana Toscanini will be honored, and incoming Executive Director Samantha Anderson will be introduced.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at npcberkshires.org.

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

King and Confidantes Debate Hope and Change in 'American Five'

By Alan PetrucelliSpecial to iBerkshires
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Fiction and fact meld in the regional premiere of "The American Five," now playing at the Larry Vaber Stage of the Unicorn Theatre. 
 
The play takes a fictionalized look at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his four closest confidants in the months leading up to the famed March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. The quintet, through differing opinions, animated arguments, constant threats of violence and a late-night meal featuring challah bread and wine, become a family as they prepare for the history-making march that galvanized the Civil Rights movement.
 
Most of us know the King saga. It's the second act in which playwright Chess Jakobs' genius shines. Prejudice runs rampant here: Is Stanley Levison, a Jewish lawyer from New York who shows up in Montgomery to join the fight for racial equality and "to repair the world," viewed as white? Jewish? Both? And march strategist and organizer Bayard Rustin experiences his own fight for civil rights because of his homosexuality. Here, Jakob explores prejudice on different levels.
 
The cast is top-notch with many emotional highs. As King, Rashun Carter (who would look more like his character if he had a full moustache) and Sydney Elisabeth (as Coretta Scott King) are at their best during a scene that bounces between humor and poignancy. 
 
She questions her husband about his meeting with President John F. Kennedy; he is angry and refuses to discuss it. "There is no 'you' out there, without a 'me,' in here," she says, leading King to agree that because of her self-worth and unwavering devotion to him, she is "Coretta Scott Queen."
 
As Clarence Jones, King's personal counsel, Brett Diggs has assurance and dignity; Harry Smith's portrayal of lawyer Stanley Levison, is nothing short of extraordinary. Destan Owens' performance as gay Bayard Rustin is the play's most outstanding performance as he defends his relations with men: "You don't get to judge me!" he tells King. "I'm just trying to find love."
 
"The American Five" is tightly directed by Gerry McIntyre; the historic period projections and footage/designed by Alex Hill remind people that there are dreams, such as hope and change, that are still being fought.
 
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