Berkshire Bank’s Foundation Announces Over $1.1 million in Contributions

Berkshire Bank’s Foundation Announces Over $1.1 million in Contributions to Support 180 Nonprofit Organizations in Second Quarter

 

Pittsfield, MA - Mon., July 18, 2022 – Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community-dedicated bank with branch locations in New England and New York, announced over $1.1 million in philanthropic investments from its Foundation during the second quarter of 2022 (April 1- June 30). The grants awarded cover a wide range of projects that help foster upward economic mobility, support overall well-being, and enhance opportunities for individual success in the communities the Bank serves. The investments also support the Company’s BEST Community Comeback which includes a planned $15 million in community contributions by the end of 2024.  

In total, 180 nonprofit organizations received grants during the second quarter of 2022 to address a wide range of critical projects including food insecurity, accessible playgrounds, empowering women and inner-city youth, financial literacy, health, wellness, inclusion, and housing.  The Berkshire Bank Foundation is committed to supporting programs that work towards providing equitable opportunity for economic prosperity. In addition, the Foundation supports programs that align with Berkshire Bank’s Center for Women, Wellness, and Wealth (CWWW) to provide opportunities for women to build a future enriched with financial stability, balance, and growth. 

“Berkshire Bank understands financial support to non-profit organizations helps to sustain vital community services during challenging economic times,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. She continued, “We are pleased to play a small role by contributing grants through our Foundation to support so many important organizations serving individuals, families, and small businesses within our Berkshire Bank communities.” 

(Recent check presentation by Berkshire Bank with CEO Nitin Mhatre and Regional President Jim Hickson to Common Capital) 

The grant recipients listed below are just a sample of the projects Berkshire Bank has supported to strengthen organizations it serves throughout MA, NY, CT, RI, and VT. They include: 

  • Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (MA) 
  • Barrington Stage Company (MA) 

  • Baystate Health Foundation, Inc. (MA) 

  • Berkshire Theatre Group, formerly Festival (MA) 

  • Berkshire United Way (MA) 

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass &Metrowest, Inc – MA 

  • Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (MA) 

  • Boys and Girls Club of Albany (NY) 

  • Community Development Program of South Berkshire (MA) 

  • Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (MA) 

  • Center for Disability Services (NY) 

  • CommonWealth Kitchen (MA) 

  • Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CT) 

  • Common Capital, Inc. (MA) 

  • Connecticut Science Center (CT) 

  • Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter (MA) 

  • Elizabeth Freeman Center, Inc. (MA) 

  • Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Inc. (CT) 

  • Hands on Hartford (CT) 

  • Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective (CT) 

  • Horizons Inc. (RI/CT) 

  • Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Inc. (MA) 

  • Learning Disabilities Association of Central NY (NY) 

  • Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MA) 

  • MLK Boston (MA) 

  • New Urban Arts (RI/CT) 

  • Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. (OPP) (CT) 

  • Pride Center of the Capital Region (NY) 

  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT and Western (MA) 

  • SCORE Massachusetts/Boston (MA) 

  • SpeakEasy Stage Company (MA) 

  • The CT Black Expo (CT) 

  • The Dorset Equine Rescue (VT) 

  • University of Saint Joseph (CT) 

  • Utica Rescue Mission (NY) 

  • Vermont Women's Fund (VT) 

  • VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VT) 

  • Wildwood Foundation (NY) 

  • Worcester Art Museum, MA (MA) 

  • Worcester Natural History Society -EcoTarium – (MA) 

  • YMCA of Greater Providence (RI) 
     

(Recent check presentation by Berkshire Bank with CEO Nitin Mhatre and Regional President Jim Hickson to University of Saint Joseph) 

Additional details on the Foundation’s grant programs and focus areas can be found by clicking here.  

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About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank is transforming what it means to bank its neighbors socially, humanly, and digitally to empower the financial potential of people, families, and businesses in its communities as it pursues its vision of being the leading socially responsible omni-channel community bank in the markets it serves. 
  
Berkshire provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management and investment services. The Bank has approximately $12.1 billion in assets and operates 105 branch offices in New England and New York. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank and is a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. To learn more, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on FacebookTwitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
 
Contact:
Alicia Jacobs, AVP, Public Relations Officer, [email protected]