BOSTON – Berkshire Bank, a leading community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced more than $426,000 in Foundation philanthropic investments during the third quarter of 2023. These investments contributed to helping the communities Berkshire Bank serves.
Grants awarded cover a wide range of projects that include arts, education, environment, health, housing, seniors, and diversity, equity and inclusion while benefiting individuals throughout the region, particularly underrepresented populations. These investments also support the company’s BEST Community Comeback which includes a planned $15 million in community contributions by the end of 2024.
According to Foundation Director Lori Gazzillo Kiely, “The Berkshire Bank Foundation is committed to supporting programs that provide equitable opportunities for economic prosperity. During the third quarter of 2023, we assisted 124 nonprofit organizations with funding to support community needs. In addition, we supported programs that align with Berkshire Bank’s Center for Women, Wellness, and Wealth (CWWW) that provides opportunities for women to build a future enriched with financial stability, balance, and growth.”
(Pictured above: Berkshire Bankers volunteered recently with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity)
Several nonprofit organization’s shared how Berkshire Bank’s support is making impact:
- President of Veteran Entrepreneurship Training and Resource Network (VETRN), Leland Bennett Goldberg noted, “VETRN is very grateful to the Berkshire Bank Foundation for its continued support for VETRN and the VETRN Program. As a result of its grant funding support and sponsorship, along with that of the SBA and other participants, VETRN, which is in its 10th year, is now a successful and highly regarded national online program for veterans and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs that provides them with the skills, mentorship and professional resources necessary to become successful small business owners.”
- “We are immensely grateful for the generous grant from Berkshire Bank, which helps us fund a wide variety of essential programs for the formerly incarcerated population in the Berkshires,” said Second Street Second Chances Board of Directors President, Mark Gold. “Our work would not be possible without community partnerships to help us help our clients enter the workforce and contribute to a more vibrant community.”
- President & CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corporation, Colleen Shanley-Loveless, shared, “All of us at Revitalize CDC could not express enough gratitude for Berkshire Bank’s generosity! Your collaboration and support of our Capital Campaign to build a warehouse/distribution center will help us serve more families in need. We appreciate your trust in us and contribution to our mission.”
The Berkshire Bank grant recipients listed below are just a sample of the projects the bank has supported to strengthen organizations throughout Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont during the third quarter of 2023. Recipients include:
- Albany Housing Coalition, Inc., NY
- Abby’s House, MA **
- American Cancer Society, NY**
- Bennington County Child Advocacy Center, VT **
- Berkshires Tomorrow, Inc., MA
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, RI
- Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, MA
- Chica Project, MA**
- Cradles to Crayons, MA
- Colchester Parks and Recreation, CT
- Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc, NY **
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Massachusetts/Rhode Island Chapter **
- Dress for Success, Worcester, MA**
- Festival Latino of the Berkshires, MA
- Flying Cloud Institute Inc. MA**
- Generations Family Health Center, Inc., CT**
- Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County Chapter, NY
- Housing Trust of Rutland County, VT
- Literacy Network (LitNet) of South Berkshire, MA
- Lupus Foundation New England, MA **
- Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Inc, CT.
- Manchester Riverwalk Association, VT
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Foundation, Inc, MA
- Pittsfield Babe Ruth Baseball, MA
- Provision Ministry, Inc., MA
- Rescue Mission of Utica, Inc., NY
- ReGreen Springfield, Inc., MA
- Revitalize Community Development Corporation, MA
- Rutland City Police Benevolent Association VT
- Sleep In Heavenly Peace – Utica, NY
- Second Street Second Chances, Inc., MA
- Susan G Komen New England, VT **
- Southwest Boston Senior Services, MA **
- The Brien Center for Mental Health & Substance Abuse, MA **
- The Latina Circle, MA**
- Tully Rinckey Foundation, VETCON, NY
- United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Association of Western Massachusetts, MA
- United Way of Rhode Island, RI
- Veteran Entrepreneurship Training and Resource Network, MA
- Woman’s Board of Day Kimball Hospital, CT**
- WorldBoston, Inc., MA
- Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Inc., MA
- YWCA of Central Massachusetts, MA **
Items with ** notate CWWW supported programs. Additional details on the Foundation’s grant programs and focus areas can be found at berkshirebank.com/foundation.
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank, founded in 1846, is becoming a high-performing, relationship-focused community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when and how it’s needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the bank has approximately $12.1 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 96 financial centers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Named one of America’s Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America’s Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Alicia Jacobs, AVP, Public Relations Officer,
communications@berkshirebank.com