Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards $46,225 to Area Nonprofits
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank Foundation announced that it has awarded $46,225 in grants to nine Pioneer Valley nonprofit organizations during its third-quarter grant cycle. The grant receipients include:
• Amherst Survival Center, to support its Emergency Food Pantry Summer Boost program;
• Holyoke Community College, to support its Center for Health Education outreach programs;
• Jewish Geriatric Services in Longmeadow, to support its Project Transformation campaign;
• Springfield Boys & Girls Club, to support its Teen Enrichment Program;
• Girls Inc. of Holyoke, to support its Literacy First Initiative;
• HAP Inc. in Springfield, to support its First Time Homebuyer and Counseling program;
• YMCA of Greater Springfield, to support its Early Learning Center revitalization project;
• Springfield Symphony Orchestra, to support its Education Connection concert series; and
• Springfield Partners for Community Action, to support its first-time homebuyer program.
“We are excited to make grant awards to these diverse nonprofit organizations that are all doing important work to contribute to the economic, education, and social vitality of our Pioneer Valley community,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and foundation director. “We are proud to play a small role in all of their efforts and look forward to working together to make our communities stronger.”
In addition to financial support, the X-TEAM, the bank’s award-winning employee-volunteer program, provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. In 2013, 70% of Berkshire Bank’s employees donated in excess of 40,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank’s service area. Due to its substantial commitment to the community through financial support and corporate volunteerism, Berkshire Bank was recognized by Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts’ most charitable companies.
