Berkshire Bank’s two charitable foundations awarded a total of $1.5 million in grants to non-profit organizations in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont during 2013. These grants supported important education and community development initiatives as well as health and human service and arts and culture programs.
The bank has offices in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.
“We are so pleased to once again give back in a significant way to the organizations doing important work in the communities that we serve,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “The growth of the bank has allowed us to provide an increase in critical financial assistance to hundreds of non-profit organizations. We look forward to continuing to contribute to the health, vibrancy and success of the communities where Berkshire Bank has a presence.”
Berkshire Bank Foundation, Inc. funds programs in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Vermont, while Berkshire Bank Foundation – Legacy Region is dedicated to funding programs in Berkshire County, Mass.
While priorities are education and community/economic development projects, they also donate to youth, cultural and human service organizations, the company said. Nearly 400 organizations received funding from the two foundations in 2013.
Berkshire Bank’s two charitable foundations accept requests for financial support online at www.berkshirebank.com/giving. The bank recently launched a new online application for charitable grants and community sponsorship requests to help streamline the request process.
In order to be considered, all requests must be submitted through the online system. Organizations interested in seeking funding from Berkshire Bank Foundation or Berkshire Bank Foundation – Legacy Region are encouraged to read the funding guidelines found on Berkshire Bank’s website prior to applying for support.
In addition to financial support, the foundation oversees the bank’s employee volunteer program, which provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours.
In 2013, Berkshire Bank employees completed over 170 service projects to help their local communities. Berkshire Bank was named by the Boston Business Journal as one of “Massachusetts Most Charitable Companies.”
Each year the Foundation donates nearly $1.5 million to nonprofits in the bank’s footprint and employees provide 40,000 hours of service. This year, Berkshire Bank and NESN have teamed up to raise $50,000 for Habitat for Humanity by donating funds to the Hockey 4 Housing campaign each time the Boston Bruins achieve a penalty kill. To learn more about Berkshire Bank Foundation, visit www.berkshirebank.com/community.
With over 165 years of banking experience, the company has approximately $6 billion in assets. Berkshire Bank has 92 full-service branch locations in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, offering a network of financial services including personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management.