Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Announce Over $975K Invested in Emergency Response Efforts

COVID-19 Fund Has Raised Nearly $2 Million with Gifts from Local Partners, Boston’s Barr Foundation

April 13, 2020

Pittsfield and Sheffield, Mass. – Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced they have awarded over 60 grants totaling more than $975,000 from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County, their joint effort with Northern Berkshire United Way and Williamstown Community Chest to raise new resources in support of community-based organizations at the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak.

“This fund is providing a rapid response to the increased challenges our nonprofits face as they provide services to our neighbors in greatest need,” said Peter Taylor, president of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “These organizations are deeply rooted in their communities and quick to action. Their work inspires us as we aim to provide ongoing support from our generous friends and partners.”

The organizations receiving grants are dispersed across Berkshire County and work to support children and low-income families, communities of color and immigrants, seniors, and people with mental illness and addiction disorders, among others. A collaborative team of staff from Berkshire Taconic, Berkshire United Way, Northern Berkshire United Way, and Williamstown Community Chest is reviewing and awarding grants on a rolling basis during the crisis as funding permits.

“It is truly amazing to see so many nonprofits come together and collaborate on projects that are feeding our neighbors, providing shelter for our homeless, and offering child care for essential workers. We are here to support the incredible work of our nonprofit partners as they respond to increasing and evolving needs across the county,” said Candace Winkler, president and CEO of Berkshire United Way. “We appreciate our fund partners, as well as individuals and workplaces, for their immediate and generous response to help our nonprofits through this fund.”

Grantees from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County include: 18 Degrees, Adams Council on Aging, Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry, Berkshire Bridges Working Cities, Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire County Arc, Berkshire County Diaper Project, Berkshire Dream Center, Berkshire Family YMCA, Berkshire Food Project, Berkshire Grown, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Helping Hands, Berkshire Hills Regional School District, Berkshire Housing Development Corporation & Berkshire Housing Services, Berkshire Immigrant Center, Berkshire Nursing Families, Berkshire Tomorrow, Inc. (BRPC) Weekend Restaurant Program, BRIDGE, The Brien Center, the Cancer Center at BMC, Cathedral of the Beloved, Central Berkshire Coordinating Center, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Central Berkshire Regional School District, Central Berkshire Regional School District Weekend Backpack Program, Chabad of the Berkshires, Cheshire Food Pantry, Christ Trinity Church, Community Food Pantry at South Congregational Church, Community Health Programs, Construct, Dalton Community Recreation Association, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Josh Bressette Commit to Save a Life, Louison House, Mass 2-1-1, Mount Carmel Care Center, NAMI Berkshire County, North Adams Farmers Market, North County Emergency Planning Commission, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Weekend Meal Project, Northern Berkshire EMS, Our Lady of Charity (St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church), Pittsfield Public Schools, Roots Rising, ROOTS Teen Center, Salvation Army, ServiceNet, Soldier On, UCP of Western MA, Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, Western MA Women’s Fund, Williamstown Food Pantry, and Youth Center, Inc. More details about each grantee’s work are online.

Fundraising for the emergency fund, which launched on March 19, has reached just under $2 million. The fund has received a $250,000 grant from the Barr Foundation, and gifts and commitments from major donors including Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Callahan Dee Family Foundation, the Joyce and Fred Crane family’s Cooper Meadow Fund at Berkshire Taconic, the Feigenbaum Foundation, the Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust, the Fuqua Family Fund at Berkshire Taconic, the Gilson Family Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Lee Bank, the Madroño Foundation, Mill Town, MountainOne, Mary Pope Osborne, the Joseph H. and Carol F. Reich Fund at Berkshire Taconic, Unistress, and Williams College, with initial resources and seed funding from Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic. A list of the fund’s generous partners is online at www.BerkshireUnitedWay.org/BerkshireCountyCovid19Fund. Donations to the fund can be made at www.BerkshireUnitedWay.org/donate.

Media Contacts:

Karrie Buratto
Berkshire United Way
E: kburatto@berkshireunitedway.org
C: 518.229.2086

Justin Burke
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
E: jburke@berkshiretaconic.org
P: 413.429.8423 or C: 917.547.0211

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