Berkshire United Way Awarded $400K in Funding to Expand Employer-Supported Childcare

10:49AM / Tuesday, August 04, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $400,000 in funding to Berkshire United Way through the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund (ECCIF) pilot.

The ECCIF pilot is intended to support partnerships between employers, child care providers, and local organizations with the goal of increasing access to affordable childcare. The pilot program was launched in 2024 to encourage employer-led childcare solutions and advance family-friendly workplace policies.

"This is an exciting opportunity for employees in our community to find affordable, high-quality childcare. While Berkshire United Way will serve as the hub, our partners will be crucial to our success. The collaborative includes Berkshire County Head Start, Child Care of the Berkshires, 18 Degrees, Youth Development Center, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Luminary Evaluation, TOURISTS, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Berkshire Community College Early Childhood Department, Berkshire Funding Focus/Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Porches Inn, and Rep. Farley-Bouvier and team. As one of only four funded projects across the state, we look forward to being a beacon for innovative childcare solutions," said Katherine von Haefen, President and CEO at Berkshire United Way.

This pilot funding will enable the implementation of employer-supported child care models tailored to the needs of Greylock Federal Credit Union and the hospitality industry. This includes expanded child-care, coverage for non-traditional business hours, and employer-funded child care assistance.

"A workplace that uplifts parents drives economic opportunity not just for that family but for the whole community,” said Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier. "So much credit goes to Berkshire United Way for prioritizing solutions and committing to partnerships that promote affordable, reliable childcare for employees. This award is a result of many months of thoughtful collaboration and hard work between Berkshire United Way, local childcare providers, and our extraordinary local employer partners. I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for investing in affordable childcare for the people of Pittsfield and Berkshire County,” said State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, 2nd Berkshire District)

In total, the Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded $2 million in funding to four different organizations across the state. These projects will support workers in industries such as health care, human services and hospitality while testing scalable models for statewide implementation.

Later this summer, the Healey-Driscoll administration will recognize Berkshire United Way at an event to be announced.

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Companion Corner: Freya, Fudge & Charlotte

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
03:00PM / Wednesday, August 26, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If looking for the perfect feline pet, why not triple the fun? There's a threesome at Berkshire Humane Society waiting for a family to call their own.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

We highlighted Freya, Charlotte and Fudge last month and they are still looking for their new home together.

Kittens Fudge and Charlotte and their mother, Freya, have been at the shelter and in a foster home since April. All three have tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), often described as feline HIV/AIDS

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to them.

"They originally were brought in from animal control. The conditions weren't the best in the home. But when they came in, they were tested positive for feline AIDS (FIV). We do send our kittens normally to foster programs to get socialized with the mom. So they got sent to a foster program for about two months to get socialized," she said.

The shelter preferably would like the three to as a family, and to a home with respectful children that will keep them inside.

"We would prefer if they could all go together, but they are a very sweet trio of kitties. They would have to be indoor only because of them being feline AIDS positive," Petell said. "It is OK for them to go into a home with other cats. We prefer if they go into a home with feline AIDS-positive cats, but even if they are negative for feline AIDS, as long as they're not actively scratching each other and biting each other to transmit it, then it should be OK."

Each cat has their own personality. The two kittens love to play with an abundance of toys; one is shy and the other is outgoing. They both like to curl up and sleep in your lap once they get to know you.

It turns out that Fudge is actually a girl. In our previous article, he was mistakenly identified as a boy.

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