Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Frances Jones leaves $40,500 for 32 North Adams Schoolchildren

September 24, 2010

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announces that the late Frances R. “Frankie” Jones donated $40,500 through her estate to the Gateway Fund, a permanent endowment that supports educational enrichment activities for students of the North Adams School District. Ms. Jones, who passed away last year at the age of 69, was a long-time resident of the city.

"We are so grateful to Frances Jones for her generous bequest,” said James Montepare, superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools. “Thanks to her, North Adams students will benefit for years to come with exceptional educational enrichment programs that might not otherwise be possible. In this era of budget cutbacks, the timing of her gift is especially welcome.”

Frances Jones was born in Pittsfield on September 29, 1939, and moved to North Adams with her family as a child. She worked as a radiologist in the x-ray dept. of North Adams Regional Hospital for several years and was employed for 15 years in the Alumni Relations Mail Services Office of Williams College. Before retiring from active employment and becoming a full time care giver for her disabled sister, Dianne Petri, she was last employed with Turbo Prop International Corp in North Adams. She enjoyed gardening, decorating and traveling. Her husband of 32 years, Richard H. Jones, passed away in 1995.

Berkshire Taconic established the Gateway Fund in 2002 and an advisory committee has built the endowment to over $130,000 through contributions from the community. Over $25,000 has been awarded in grants since that time. Two recent examples of projects supported by the Gateway Fund are:

Digital Photography Photo Book Project - $1,000

Drury photography teacher Phoebe Pepper was awarded funds to work with students to produce a high quality photography book that incorporates original writing as well as images. The students will develop, write, edit and print stories inspired by their digital photos.

Kidspace Artist Residency with Portia Munson Project - $1,000

As part of her artist residency at Kidspace at MASS MoCA, Portia Munson will work with North Adams 7th graders to create art installations in their schools and vacant storefronts in North Adams. She will also organize an installation titled Color Forms, consisting of found objects and photographs, that explores how colors become stereotyped for girls and boys.

You can donate online to the Gateway Fund, or by calling 413.229.0370.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Berkshire Taconic connects donors with causes they care about by administering and investing their charitable funds. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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