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/ Berkshire Bank’s Foundation Announces Nearly $600k in Community Investments During First Quarter 2023

Berkshire Bank’s Foundation Announces Nearly $600k in Community Investments During First Quarter 2023

Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced its Foundation provided $584,361 in philanthropic investments during the first quarter of 2023 (January 1- March 31) to foster upward economic mobility, racial equity, and enhance opportunities for success in the regions Berkshire 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, Berkshire’s Foundation assisted 120 nonprofit organizations during the quarter with grants to support a wide range of critical projects including small business entrepreneurship, housing, food insecurity, homelessness, educational advancement, youth, arts, culture, diversity, and inclusion. Ultimately funding helped support the overall health and well-being of communities across New England and New York, particularly for underrepresented populations.

“We are proud to continue our strong support of the communities that Berkshire Bank serves. Beyond our financial contributions, we continue to amplify our impact though our XTEAM employee volunteer program, regularly assisting with projects to help those in need in our communities,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Managing Director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. She continued, “We are pleased to make these contributions to support individuals, families, and small businesses within our markets.” The grant recipients listed below are just a sample of the projects Berkshire Bank supported to strengthen organizations throughout MA, NY, CT, RI, and VT. They include:

  • Angel of Edgewood, Inc. (CT)
  • Berkshire Immigrant Center Inc (MA)
  • Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups and Education, Inc. (MA)
  • Berkshire Pride (MA)
  • Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (MA)
  • Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation (MA)
  • Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (MA)
  • Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center, Inc. (known as WERC) (NY)
  • Community Access to the Arts (MA)
  • Community Catalyst, Inc. (MA)
  • Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Inc (NY)
  • CNY Jazz Central (NY)
  • Economic Mobility Pathways (MA)
  • Enfield Pride (CT)
  • Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires & Southern Vermont, Inc (VT)
  • Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut (CT)
  • Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.
  • Homeless and Travelers Aid Society (NY)
  • Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (CT)
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MA & RI)
  • Make-It Springfield (MA)
  • Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MA)
  • Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition Inc (MA)
  • Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) (MA)
  • Rhode Island Community Food Bank (RI)
  • Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation (CT)
  • Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs Inc (NY)
  • Seven Hills Foundation (MA)
  • Soldier On, Inc. f/k/a United Veterans of America, Inc. (MA)
  • State University Of New York Polytechnic Institute Foundation (NY)
  • ToLife! Inc (NY)
  • The Arc Eastern Connecticut (CT)
  • The Stratton Mountain & Valley Community Benefit Foundation (VT)
  • UMass Medical School Foundation (MA)
  • Vermont Green-up Inc (VT)
  • Vermont Works for Women (VT)
  • Wildwood Foundation (NY)
  • Why Me, Inc (MA)

About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank, founded in 1846, is becoming a high-performing, leading, socially responsible 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 $12.3 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 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, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Contact:  Alicia Jacobs, AVP, Public Relations Officer, communications@berkshirebank.com