Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Women’s Fund of Western Mass Establishes Berkshire County Endowment

March 17, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced the establishment of a partnership with The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and the creation of a Berkshire endowment for the fund. The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts was formed in 1997 to help create economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Massachusetts through grantmaking and strategic initiatives. At that time, a financial relationship was formed with Berkshire Taconic. In late 2010, the two organizations revisited their relationship and upgraded it to a permanent and dynamic partnership.

The Women’s Fund established a Berkshire endowment to solidify the footprint of The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts in Berkshire County and to ensure an ongoing investment in the talents of women and girls in the county. The two organizations will work together to enhance the growth of the endowment and invest its earnings every year in worthy projects in Berkshire County.

Berkshire Taconic will support the work of The Women’s Fund by distributing information about its grants to nonprofits in Berkshire County. The foundation will align its own grantmaking in the area of women and girls with that of the Women’s Fund to extend the impact of the charitable dollars of both organizations.

“This commitment by the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts to the women and girls of Berkshire County is so important,” stated Jennifer Dowley, president of Berkshire Taconic. “Our communities need the attention: The rate of teenage pregnancy is higher than the rest of the state, and getting higher. 3 of the 4 cities in Massachusetts with the highest rates of domestic violence are in Berkshire County. Only 28% of women in the County are college graduates. Berkshire Taconic looks forward to supporting the growth of this endowment and collaborating on the investment of its earnings into our communities.”

Carla Oleska, CEO of The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts said, “We believe that if you change the life of a girl, you change the life of a woman; if you change the life of a woman, you change the life of a family; and if you change the life of a family, you change a society. Since 1998, The Women’s Fund has awarded more than $275,000 in grants to programs and organizations throughout Berkshire County. By deepening our relationship with Berkshire Taconic, we can collaborate to more effectively identify and address the needs of women and girls in the local community.”

To contribute to the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts Berkshire County Endowment, visit berkshiretaconic.org/makeadonation or call 413.229.0370 for more information. Grant applications are due at the end of January each year and are available online. Grants are awarded in May of each year.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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