An emergency grant to Berkshire South Regional Community Center helped fund summer camp in 2020, which moved from its indoor location to Camp Half Moon to keep campers and staff safe. Photo by John Dolan.

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2020

Our Work >	Message from Our President As your community foundation, we look to the future with hope and optimism because we have witnessed the best of our communities during the worst of times. As the pandemic threatened lives and livelihoods, BTCF donors and partners mobilized more than $4 million to nonprofits that provided critical services to our neighbors in need. We share the inspiring work of these collaborations below in our digital review of 2020. Last year also made it clear that we all have work to do in addressing forces and trends that are creating disparities and division, and helping to end the conditions that perpetuate racist systems and oppression. We launched a new Bridging Divides, Healing Communities grant program at the end of 2020 to build trust and promote reconciliation at the local level, and we are continuing these efforts throughout 2021. And while advancing equity is a longstanding value of BTCF, our volunteer board and committees, along with staff, are redoubling efforts to build more inclusive processes in support of our grantmaking, scholarships and leadership work. Investing in this work over time will strengthen the foundation’s ability to help foster equitable communities, economic opportunity and a high quality of life for all residents. The energy and inspiration is all around us for a better way forward. Thank you for joining us as we find it together. Peter Taylor, President
By the Numbers >
Investment Report >
New Funds >
Professional Advisors >
Legacy Circle >
Board of Directors >
Our Region >

Highlights of Our Work in 2020

BTCF quickly responded to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic by joining forces with donors and nonprofits at the local level through philanthropy and trusted partnerships. Drawing on the deep local knowledge of our professional and volunteer leadership, we directed funds where they were needed most and multiplied the impact of generous donors. Our grant and scholarship committees continued their important work of making college more affordable, expanding school enrichment and strengthening our communities as we maintained focus on our strategic priorities of economic opportunity, educational attainment and community engagement. Below are highlights of our work last year.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and Berkshire United Way—in partnership with Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest—launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County in the first weeks of the pandemic. This fund provided flexible resources to nonprofits serving Berkshire County residents feeling the greatest impact of the shutdown. Throughout the county, nonprofits assisted residents with food, shelter, health and mental health services, child care and other critical support.

The Emergency Response Fund, along with BTCF’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund and the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, awarded $3.05 million in 2020 to nearly 100 organizations. Almost half of the grants went toward helping struggling families, and the rest to organizations that work to support children, communities of color and immigrants, seniors, and people with mental illness and substance use disorders, among others. View a list of grantees. More than 400 generous individual, corporate and foundation donors contributed to the fund, including over $500,000 from BTCF donor advised funds and $250,000 from the Barr Foundation.

ACHIEVING IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND GENEROSITY

EforAll Berkshire County—our partnership to help drive inclusive economic growth—led two intensive accelerator programs in 2020 to help local entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses, and hosted virtual pitch contests and workshops throughout the year to give startups guidance and support.
Arts Build Community, our effort to increase community engagement through the arts in Berkshire County with the Barr Foundation, awarded $40,000 in rapid response grants to help nine nonprofits test new ideas to engage year-round residents in the arts, and provided general operating support grants of $20,000 each to seven arts nonprofits in response to the pandemic.
Our scholarship and education enrichment funds kept focus on giving aid to students during this unprecedented year. The Honorable James P. Dohoney Scholarship committee significantly increased its awards this year to provide up to $8,000 to four graduating seniors of southern Berkshire high schools to help them achieve their educational goals. The Berkshire Hills Fund for Excellence supported Community Learning in the Berkshires (CLuB), which offered creative and safe remote-learning sites for students in the Southern Berkshire and Berkshire Hills regional school districts. CLuB was organized by Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Flying Cloud Institute, Flying Deer Nature Center, Greenagers and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires.
Two of our funds highlighted the work of teachers and writers. Dr. Tasia Cheng-Chia Wu, a music teacher at Berkshire School in Sheffield, was awarded the $10,000 James C. Kapteyn Prize for excellence in teaching. Poet Dan Albergotti of South Carolina focused exclusively on his work for six months as the Amy Clampitt poet-resident. Dan said he wrote “more new poems than the past four years combined” while in retreat at Clampitt’s former home near Lenox.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Within two weeks of the shutdown, BTCF launched the Columbia County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to provide flexible resources to nonprofits and residents throughout the crisis. The fund awarded $333,000 to 28 nonprofits, a total of 37 grants. These organizations supported children and vulnerable families, seniors and immigrants, among others, through services such as food pantries, health care and conflict resolution. Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund also distributed nearly $40,000 in emergency assistance to trusted social workers, who directed the funds to local residents in economic distress.

BTCF also established the Columbia County Business Continuity Fund to assist small businesses during the pandemic. The fund awarded $203,000 to 92 businesses located in Hudson and town centers throughout the county with fewer than 10 full-time employees and less than $1 million in annual revenue. We launched the fund in partnership with Columbia Economic Development Corporation, as well as the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson Business Coalition. Lael Locke, a longtime resident of Chatham, generously donated $15,000 to support a grant cycle benefitting small businesses in the village of Chatham.

View Columbia County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and Business Continuity Fund Grantees

Columbia County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Grantees

Abode Farm: $5,500 to increase the number of subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares for low-income children, families and seniors in New Lebanon, in partnership with schools and nonprofits

Camphill Ghent: $5,000 to purchase non-perishable food for an onsite pantry for its 70+ elderly residents and staff

Coarc, the Columbia County Chapter of the Arc New York: $15,000 for food and nutritional supplements for the 400 individuals with disabilities and their families the organization serves countywide

Columbia Children’s Center: $10,000 for operating support to provide child care and three meals a day for the children of essential workers

Second grant: $15,000 to purchase outdoor equipment for use in providing child care in summer months

Columbia County Recovery Kitchen: $15,000 to purchase healthy ingredients for 500 weekly meals over 12 weeks prepared by volunteer restaurant chefs and delivered to families experiencing food insecurity

Second grant: $5,000 to help produce 950 meals per week for food-insecure residents for six weeks

Columbia County Sanctuary Movement: $15,000 to provide financial support for immigrant communities to meet basic needs, including medicine, housing, and food, as well as delivery of supplies

Columbia-Greene Community Foundation at Columbia-Greene Community College: $15,000 to provide financial support for students for costs such as tuition, housing, child care and food

Common Ground Dispute Resolution: $1,080 to purchase Zoom accounts for remote counseling and mediation to families in crisis as a result of sheltering in place, loss of jobs and possible evictions

Friends of Hudson Youth: $12,000 for twice-weekly grocery deliveries to vulnerable families at four public housing sites in Hudson

Second grant: $11,880 for an ambassador program in parks and public places to keep kids without access to structured summer programs safe this summer

Future Hudson: $3,500 to create and implement Hudson Safe, a public health campaign to encourage mutual care and safe behavior in public spaces

The Healthcare Consortium: $15,000 to support its rural transportation service as it adapts to support individuals requiring dialysis and COVID-19 testing, and to deliver food to homebound residents

Hudson Day Care Center: $8,034 to cover salaries and the purchase of cleaning and sanitizing supplies during a period of reduced enrollment

Ichabod Crane Central School District: $9,000 to provide weekend meals during summer months for approximately 80 families

Kite’s Nest: $13,800 to keep Hudson's only community garden safely open to serve fresh and healthy food to an estimated 200-plus low-income immigrants

The Mental Health Association of Columbia and Greene Counties: $10,000 to seed a rent fund and purchase food and grocery gift cards for low-income individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Second grant: $5,000 to provide rent support for low-income individuals and families with lost income.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Columbia County: $5,000 for videoconferencing fees and technical support for its website to promote services for individuals and families

New Lebanon Farmers Market: $7,000 for the Market Match program to double the spending power of families and seniors who are eligible for federal food and nutrition benefits

Second grant: $7,500 to purchase produce and dairy and provide staffing for the distribution of weekly food packages for eight weeks

Perfect Ten: $7,500 to support a six-week summer program with a range of engaging activities for girls aged 8 to 18 in Hudson

ReEntry Columbia: $6,946 to provide food and hygiene products, rental assistance and clothing to parolees, newly released or otherwise justice-involved residents who lack support systems

Second grant: $14,873 to provide transportation, food and hygiene products, rental assistance and clothing to parolees, newly released or otherwise justice-involved residents who lack support systems

Roe Jan Food Pantry: $3,000 to supply food and toiletries to growing numbers of clients who have lost jobs and are not yet receiving government assistance

Taconic Hills Central School District: $15,360 to provide one-on-one tuturing through a summer learning program for English as a New Language students

Rolling Grocer 19: $5,000 to increase its outreach and food distribution to vulnerable populations including children and youth from low-income households and seniors

The Salvation Army of Hudson, NY: $5,000 to provide boxed lunches and delivered meals, as well as diapers and baby formula, to families and seniors

Time and Space Limited: $5,000 to provide affordable prepared dinners three times a week while its arts programming is halted

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood: $15,000 to continue providing no-cost or sliding scale health care to its predominantly young, low-income and Medicaid-insured patients through telemedicine and safely delivered in-person services

Second grant: $15,000 to support sliding scale cost structure and telehealth care for patients at the Hudson Health Center

Columbia County Business Continuity Fund Grantees

Ancramdale
The Pond Restaurant

Chatham
American Pie, Bimi's Cheese Shop, Browns Emporium, Inn at Silver Maple Farm, Lagonias Pizzeria, Lea's, Old Chatham Child Care, PieconicNY, The People's Pub, The Warm Ewe

Claverack
Olde York Farm

Copake
Dads Copake Diner, Depot Deli

Germantown
Central House Hotel Inn, Germantown Laundromat, Quittner Antiques

Ghent
Boxwood Linen

Greenport
Hudson Polish Delicatessen, KS Fitness, Lumber Jack Athletics, Taconic Driving School

Hillsdale
CrossRoads Food Store, Foxy & Winston, Hillsdale House, Holiday House Motel, Passiflora, Tiny Hearts Farm Flower Shop, Trudy's Beauty Shop

Hudson
2hotteez, A Collector's Eye, Antigo, Batterby House, Bavier Brook, Behida Dolic Millinery, Bodhi Holistic Spa, Bruno's, Colonia Casa, Dish Hudson, Fig & Bella, Finch, Flowerkraut, Geoffrey Good Jewelry, Good Fight Herb Co., Home/Made Hudson, Hudson City Bed and Breakfast, Hudson Clothier, Hudson Hotel Group, I'M Beauty Store, Inn at 34, Iron Horse Cigar Depot, Jonathan's Computers, LikeMindedObjects, LYF Fitness, M&J's Unisex Hair Studio, Mane Street Hairstyles, Mount Merino Manor, Ninex Realty Management Group, Oak Pizzeria Napoletana, Pampered Pooch Grooming Salon, Pico de Mayo, Pilates Hudson, R McCarroll Upholstery Designs, Railroad CrossFit, Relish Delights, Rev Cafe, River Pilates, Sadhana Center for Yoga and Mediation, September Gallery, Sideshow Clothing Co., Spruce Salon, Tanzy's, The Bee's Knees, The Half Moon, Tommy's Salon, Valley Variety, Verdigris Tea

Kinderhook
Beaver Mill Antiques, Broad Street Bagel Company, Main Street Diner, Ruff Cuts, The Flammerie

New Lebanon
Berkshire Thrift, Bucky's Bagels, DMC Racing Products, Godfroy's Service Station, Hilltown Country Smokehouse, M & M’s Tap Room and Tavern, Masterpiece Jewelry Studio, Meissner's Auction Service and Antique Center, Ward Hatch Mechanical

Valatie
Albany Emkay Cleaners & Coin Laundry, Chris' Cafe, Cross Eyed Owl Gift Shop, Filli's Deli and Bakery, KJ's Gymnastics, KT Hair Studio, Mairanda's Cutting Edge, Valatie Bar & Grill

ACHIEVING IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND GENEROSITY

Columbia Opportunities and Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood are partners in leading and developing the Talk Read Sing Columbia network as it holds trainings for staff at early learning centers, read-a-thons for families, and summits on topics such as kindergarten transition. Talk Read Sing Columbia distributed $20,000 in grants last year to eight Columbia County organizations that aim to boost early literacy and encourage lifelong learning. This BTCF partnership of nonprofit, education and government leaders launched in January 2020 to provide parents and caregivers with the tools to talk, read and sing more with children from birth to age 5 to better prepare them for school.
Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous donors, our Fresh and Healthy Food for All initiative awarded $160,000 to two partners that are working to create a more equitable food system in Columbia County. Hawthorne Valley Association safely provided affordable, local food to residents through the Rolling Grocer 19 store in Hudson, and expanded its services for pickups and deliveries in New Lebanon. The Sylvia Center broadened the reach of its healthy cooking classes for young people and their families through partnerships with community organizations, along with virtual classes paired with fresh meal kits.
The Fund for Columbia County awarded $50,000 in unrestricted general operating support to 18 nonprofits to help them maintain their programs during the pandemic.
The Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Fund awarded $20,000 for projects that enhance the education experience and support the social-emotional well-being of students in the Hudson City School District, such as providing access to an arts and music curriculum for use during and after school.

NORTHEAST DUTCHESS COUNTY

COVID-19 RESPONSE

BTCF and the Northeast Dutchess Fund (NED) focused on helping nonprofits, individuals and families in crisis in the 11 towns, villages and hamlets of northeast Dutchess County. NED distributed $244,000 to vital nonprofits through two rounds of grantmaking in the spring and fall. These grants helped the organizations fulfill their missions and address the needs of our most vulnerable residents. Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley co-funded eight of the fall grants, which provided unrestricted general operating support to help the nonprofits maintain existing, effective programs.

Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund directed $70,000 to social workers at Grace Immigrant Outreach, the North East Community Center and the Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County in 2020 to help their clients pay rent, cover medical bills and buy meals. Thanks to a significant gift from a generous anonymous donor, our Northeast Dutchess COVID-19 Relief Fund began distributing $200,000 in cash cards in 2020 to bring immediate relief to many residents facing extreme financial hardship, including those who may not be eligible for government assistance. Our partner social workers are continuing to direct those cards to residents in need.

View Northeast Dutchess Fund COVID-19 Response Grantees

Responsive Grants — Spring 2020

Bard College for Civic Engagement: $3,000 for the Pine Plains Citizen Science Program for middle school students

Center of Compassion: $5,000 for the School Backpack Program for children in need of food at home

Clinton Community Library: $5,000 in support of the Optimistic Aging Program for seniors

Engaging People in Change: $3,000 in support of summer programs for EPIC at Grace Church

First Presbyterian Church of Millerton: $3,500 for Caring Community dinners to build community and provide food and basic household essentials for those in need

Comida de Vida / Food of Life Pantry: $12,000 for food pantry operations at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church

Gateway to Entrepreneurial Tomorrows: $10,000 for the COVID-19 Rapid Response Program for immigrants

Hope Rising Farm Therapeutic Riding Center: $3,000 for operational support during COVID-19

Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation: $3,000 to purchase computer tablets for the Telehospice Program

Innisfree Foundation: $3,000 in support of free admission for Northeast Dutchess Days at Innisfree Garden

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley: $6,000 to fund free legal services for northeast Dutchess residents in need

Millerton Adopt-A-Family: $5,000 to provide operational support for the Christmas 2020 giving program

Millbrook Early Childhood Education Center: $5,000 for the Scholarship Assistance Program

North East Community Center: $10,000 in support of Youth Enrichment Programs

NorthEast-Millerton Library: $2,804 to support the Providing Access Program during COVID-19

Pine Plains Central School District: $1,500 for sewing machines for the Family and Consumer Classroom Program

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County: $6,000 to support safe and healthy housing projects for low-income residents

Rock Steady Farm (with the Watershed Center): $3,000 to provide vegetable shares for low-income families

The Susie Reizod Foundation: $3,000 to supply shoes for the New Shoes Donation Program for children in northeast Dutchess

Stanford Free Library: $4,265 to support the Be Big Be Brave self-awareness and safety program for middle school
and high school girls

Town of Stanford: $3,000 to support the expansion of the food pantry in Stanford

Worker Justice Center of New York: $3,000 to purchase devices for virtual outreach and education of low-wage workers

Wassaic Project: $10,000 in support of 2020 artistic programming

White Pine Community Farm: $3,000 to provide locally grown herbs to low-income families

Willow Roots: $3,000 in support of the We Care Food Pantry in Pine Plains

Pivoting to Respond Grants — Fall 2020

The Northeast Dutchess Fund provided nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 with unrestricted general operating support to achieve their missions. These flexible grants support an organization’s ongoing administrative and infrastructure costs and ability to maintain existing, effective programs. Grants focused on benefiting people from historically marginalized, under-served and under-resourced communities or populations.

Pivoting to Respond Grants co-funded by the Northeast Dutchess Fund and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley*

Center for Compassion: $5,000 in support of reopening their food pantry and thrift shop operations

Cornell Cooperative Extension: $5,000 for the Addressing Community Needs Through Education program in northeast Dutchess

Gateway to Entrepreneurial Tomorrows: $5,000 in support of ABC Latino Media Network operations

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley: $5,000 to ensure the sustainability of their programs in northeast Dutchess

North East Community Center: $5,000 to support Thriving Together programs for community residents

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County: $5,000 to support the restart of their Rebuilding Program in northeast Dutchess

Worker Justice Center of New York: $5,000 to support outreach and education for farm workers in northeast Dutchess as they face COVID-19 related setbacks

Comida de Vida / Food of Life Pantry: $5,000 for infrastructure improvements for cold weather food distribution at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church

*Each organization received a total of $10,000 — $5,000 from NED and $5,000 from CFHV

Pivoting to Respond Grants funded by the Northeast Dutchess Fund

Clinton Community Library: $10,000 to provide devices for employees to work from home and online programming

Grace Immigrant Outreach: $10,000 to support the continuation of the Grace Year Program fellowships

Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association: $10,000 in general operating funds to cover loss of funding support

Rock Steady Farm (with the Watershed Center): $10,000 to supplement operations in providing vegetable shares to low-income residents

Wassaic Project: $10,000 in support of the organization’s fall 2020 recovery plan

Comida de Vida / Food of Life Pantry: $10,000 for food pantry expansion at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church

ACHIEVING IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND GENEROSITY

The Northeast Dutchess Fund awarded $25,000 to nonprofit organizations that are developing new programs and expanding services for immigrants living in northeast Dutchess County. The fund is prioritizing opportunities for the growing immigrant community to navigate support systems, gain skills, meet basic needs and become active participants in their towns.
Our Community Development Collaborations initiative supported Hudson River Housing, which is working to promote solutions for affordable housing in Amenia, Millerton and Pine Plains as co-leader of the Tri-Town Coalition.
Our education enrichment funds granted nearly $20,000 for projects that support social and emotional well-being in the Dover, Pine Plains and Webutuck school districts. In one such project, the Webutuck QUEST for Excellence Fund made a grant to the Wassaic Project to create and distribute workbooks that encourage self-expression and social connection at home.
The Northeast Dutchess Scholarship Fund awarded a total of $18,000 to four local students. Tyler Tompkins of Wingdale graduated from Dover High School last year, and he received $4,500 to study the music industry at SUNY Oneonta. Three previous scholarship recipients received renewals in 2020 to continue their college education.

NORTHWEST LITCHFIELD COUNTY

COVID-19 RESPONSE

When the pandemic took our communities by surprise, BTCF and the Northwest Corner Fund quickly established the Northwest Corner COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support residents facing economic hardship and the vital nonprofits that serve our nine towns in northwest Litchfield County. In 2020, the fund awarded more than 30 grants totaling nearly $80,000 to local organizations to help keep their doors open and meet the needs of vulnerable individuals and families. Grants paid for food, utilities, rent, diapers, child-care tuition payments, medical supplies and virtual access to counseling services. Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation—our partner in this work—matched every dollar. A generous $50,000 anonymous matching gift from a BTCF donor advised fund helped establish the emergency fund, and many local residents donated to the effort.

In addition, our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund distributed close to $70,000 to trusted social workers, who used these emergency grants to help Northwest Corner residents in crisis pay costs related to housing, utilities, transportation, food and health. Our grants increased by 235% over 2019, demonstrating the overwhelming need for this support. What’s more, thanks to a group of generous donors, dozens of student families in the Region One School District received grocery cards when meal delivery was interrupted over spring break.

View Northwest Corner COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Grantees

RAPID RESPONSE GRANTEES — MARCH AND APRIL 2020

AHA Afterschool Program: $750 to pay the balance due for the child care of children that attend the North Canaan Elementary School afterschool program to bring relief to families.

Canaan Child Care Center: $2,000 to help cover tuition payments for vulnerable families.

Cornwall Child Center: $1,000 to help cover tuition payments for vulnerable families.

Cornwall Food and Fuel Fund of the Cornwall Food Pantry: $500 to purchase food for Cornwall families in need.

Couch-Pipa VFW Post 6851: $1,000 to assist the Northwest Corner’s older veteran population with basic needs, including food, utilities and medical supplies.

EdAdvance: $500 to provide food and assistance with essential basic needs for vulnerable families, including immigrants, lower-income and homeless residents, and communities of color.

Falls Village Senior Center: $750 to provide assistance with essential basic needs—including rent, food, medication and utilities—for vulnerable seniors and lower-income families in Falls Village.

Family & Children’s Aid: $500 to provide families with gift cards for basic needs to alleviate financial concerns, allowing them to maintain virtual therapy sessions for their children.

Fishes and Loaves: $500 to purchase food and other supplies needed to serve an estimated increase of 20-25% in patrons the food pantry serves due to the COVID-19 emergency.

Geer Village: $1,250 to provide food and care to vulnerable seniors who are currently at home, and offer additional sick time to staff.

Greenwoods Counseling Referrals: $750 to provide lower-income Northwest Corner residents with technological resources—ranging from refurbished computers to increased data plans—to virtually access mental health counseling services.

Kent Affordable Housing: $750 to assist with rent and utilities for disadvantaged residents who are unemployed or have reduced hours due to the pandemic.

Litchfield County Family Child Care Network: $600 to offset pandemic-related costs incurred by a network of family child-care providers in northwest Connecticut, as well as assist families with day care costs.

McCall Center for Behavioral Health: $750 to provide clients with food and solar-powered cell phone chargers to help them access telemedicine options for substance abuse and mental health treatment.

New Opportunities: $750 to offer rental assistance to vulnerable residents, including the elderly, those without health insurance, and the recently unemployed.

Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association: $500 to purchase personal protective equipment for staff.

Susan B. Anthony Project: $1,250 to provide victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with food, cleaning and sanitizing supplies, rental assistance, medical and behavioral health copays, formula and diapers and utility assistance.

Town of Warren Social Services: $500 to provide basic needs for residents, including food, diapers, medical supplies, hygiene items and gift cards for grocery deliveries, as well as print a newsletter to share these services with seniors and at-risk neighbors.

United Church of Christ in Cornwall: $500 to help residents in crisis during the pandemic, including rent subsidies, heating, food, medication and utilities.

Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires: $750 to provide financial assistance for essential basic needs for income-qualified northwest Litchfield County residents, including immigrants and lower-income individuals.

RELIEF GRANTEES — MAY 2020

AHA Afterschool Program: $1,250 to install a child-friendly sink and a window that will allow for better air flow in the classroom.

Canaan Child Care Center: $4,275 to support renovations that comply with CDC-recommended isolation and physical space configurations.

David M. Hunt Library: $1,750 to renovate the book sale room into a multipurpose room for patron use that complies with current physical distancing restrictions.

Fishes and Loaves: $2,500 to support operating expenses due to increased demand for food.

Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: $4,675 to modify all vehicles to install protective barriers.

Greenwoods Counseling Referrals: $4,575 to support operating expenses to maintain client access to mental health treatment via telehealth.

Housatonic Child Care Center: $12,250 to support operating expenses and accommodate safer physical distancing in the facility.

Housatonic Youth Service Bureau: $10,000 to support operating expenses.

Kent Memorial Library: $3,150 to support the cost of sanitation and safety improvements.

Litchfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan: $2,000 to support the purchase of a replacement command/first responder vehicle.

Northwest Connecticut Arts Council: $2,000 to support the Artist Relief Fund, a fund created to assist individual creative professionals in need of financial support.

Northwestern Connecticut Community College: $7,500 to support the Student Emergency Fund.

SOAR: $3,350 to support operating expenses of ongoing virtual programming for Salisbury Central School students.

ACHIEVING IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND GENEROSITY

Maggie Bickford of Canaan received the $105,000 Margaret Derwin scholarship, which is awarded annually to a Housatonic Valley Regional High School junior to pay for college expenses and a community service trip. Maggie, who said the scholarship has changed her life, will attend West Virginia University in fall 2021 to pursue a career as a pediatrician or a pediatric surgeon.
Our Northwest Corner Fund continued its partnership with the McCall Center for Behavioral Health and the Foundation for Community Health to combat substance abuse in northwest Litchfield County. The Botvin LifeSkills program, an evidence-based class that aims to delay the first use of harmful substances and promote healthy personal development, shifted to virtual learning and helped young students in the Region One School District develop skills related to coping and managing change during a challenging school year.
Our Community Development Collaborations initiative awarded grants to promote economic opportunity and town center development. The Foundation for Norfolk Living pursued a proposed cluster of new net-zero energy homes and encouraged affordable housing through community outreach, and the Northwest Hills Council of Governments supported two pop-up community hubs in Cornwall and Warren, which provided services like Wi-Fi and a farmers market during the pandemic.
When the Jane Lloyd Fund announced the cancellation of its annual clambake fundraiser last year, community members rallied to support the fund and its mission. Thanks to their generosity, the fund awarded more than $50,000 in 2020 to assist cancer patients and their families with financial need in the Northwest Corner.

By the Numbers

Investment Report

Generous donors have entrusted their philanthropy to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation for more than three decades. Strong investment performance amid changing economic times is a hallmark of our program. We take seriously our responsibility to steward resources with prudent, long-term strategies that maximize grantmaking and preserve and grow philanthropic capital for the future.

New funds

New Marlborough Meeting House opened a nonprofit agency fund to maintain and repair the performance and event space on the village green. Photo by Lee Backer, courtesy New Marlborough Meeting House.

At Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, we use a collaborative approach to philanthropy and offer a variety of charitable funds that allow donors to give now or through their estates. We are grateful to partner with all the fundholders who established new funds last year.

1941 Scholarship Fund – North Adams School District
7 Turtle Island Fund
Angels of St. Anthony Fund
Berkshire County Pandemic Relief Fund
Dr. H.H. Gadsby Scholarship Fund
Elizabeth F. and Wynn A. Sayman Fund
King/Cruey Family Fund

Kristin & James Allen Fund
New Marlborough Meeting House Maintenance Fund
Pepita Foundation Fund
Sasco Fund
Skylar Cantarella Memorial Fund
The GRU Fund
William S. and Patricia G. Linscott Fund
Anonymous (5)

We welcomed the new funds listed above between Sept. 1, 2020 and June 15, 2021.

Learn how to establish a fund with BTCF >

Professional Advisors

We thank the professional advisors who work with us to help fulfill their clients' charitable visions.

Molly Ackerly, Esq.
Ackerly Brown LLP

Paula K. Almgren
Almgren Law

Andrea Doyle Asman
Litwin Asman PC

Jeffrey Belair
Smith, Watson & Company LLP

Alexander W. Bloomstein, Esq.
Baldwin & Bloomstein LLC

Jennifer M. Boll, Esq.
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Louise F. Brown, Esq.
Ackerly Brown LLP

Michael Bucci
Pattison Koskey Howe & Bucci PC

J. Peri Campoli, Esq.
Campoli, Monteleone & Mozian PC

Matthew Chester, CFP
Tableaux Wealth

Michael Citrin
Drury, Patz & Citrin LLP

Janice J. Cook, Esq.
Donovan O’Connor & Dodig LLP

Thomas A. Curtin

Alexandra Dest
Alexandra Dest Capital Management

Jason Dohaney, MBA
MountainOne Investments

Edward F. Downey
Downey, Haab and Murphy PLLC

Geoffrey Drury
Drury, Patz & Citrin LLP

Keith J. Flint, Esq.
Flint Law Firm

Mark S. Gold
Smith Green & Gold LLP

Pamela R. Green
Smith Green & Gold LLP

Mitchell I. Greenwald
Law Office of Mitchell I. Greenwald

Sherwood Guernsey II, Esq.
Law Offices of Sherwood Guernsey

Martin L. Huban III
Brazee and Huban CPAs

Ellen Janis, MBA
Commonwealth Financial Group

Ira J. Kaplan, Esq.
Attorney at Law

Katherine Kiefer, Esq.

Richard P. Koskey
Pattison Koskey Howe & Bucci PC

Wendy Linscott
Lamme and Linscott

Thomas Malinowski
Renaissance Investment Group LLC

John J. Martin, Esq.
Martin & Oliveira LLP

William E. Martin, Esq.
Martin & Oliveira LLP

Michael McCarthy
George, Massimiano & McCarthy PC

Kathleen McCormick
McCormick, Murtagh & Marcus

Ronda G. Parish
Law Office of Ronda G. Parish

Linda Patz
Drury, Patz & Citrin LLP

Lucy Prashker
Cain Hibbard & Myers PC

Holly Rogers
Law Office of Holly Rogers

Keith Salisbury
Walsh, Wicks & Salisbury

Gary Schiff
October Mountain Financial Advisors

Brooks Sherman
RBC Wealth Management

James J. Sisto, Esq.
Berkshire Elder Law Center

Benjamin Smith
Benjamin Smith & Associates Legal Counsel PC

George Smith, CPA
Smith, Watson & Company LLP

Susan M. Smith, Esq.

David R. Stack
McLaughlin & Stern LLP

Donna Turner
Smith, Watson & Company LLP

John N. Umlauf
Umlauf & Dunn PC

Charles C. Vail
Ackerly Brown LLP

Emily Vail
Ackerly Brown LLP

Donna D. Vincenti
Law Offices of Donna D. Vincenti

Carl G. Whitbeck Jr., Esq.
Whitbeck Benedict & Smith LLP

Douglas F. Wicks, Esq.
Walsh, Wicks & Salisbury

Legacy Circle

Florence Anne Sasso of Great Barrington has always loved animals. When her dog contracted Lyme disease, the medical bills cost thousands of dollars. "It's not fair that people can't afford to care for their pets," she said. In response, Florence established the Angels of St. Anthony Fund at BTCF. Once the fund is active, it will help Great Barrington seniors pay for wellness and veterinary services for their pets. Photo by John Dolan.

We thank the legacy donors below who have made a commitment to strengthen the future of our region by supporting the causes they care about, and have chosen BTCF as the vehicle for their generosity.

Eunice Agar
Dr. Nicholas Boraski
Christine and Tack Burbank
Duncan Calhoun and Russell Gibson
Ted Cobden
Kevin and Jean Decker
Sally Eagle and Dan Mead
Norma Edsall* and Alice Corbin*
Monroe England
Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster
Fred and Nancy Fagelman
Brian Fairbank
Ralph D. Fedele
Renee Fuller*
Pamela R. and Jay R. Green
Joan Griswold
Donald Grody*
Ed and Lisa Bouchard Hoe
Thomas and Barbara Joseph
Francoise Kelz
Dave Klausmeyer

Peter Krysa*
Jane Laning
Lael Locke
Eleanor Lord
Priscilla J. McEwen and Charles A. Garman
William S.* and Patricia G.* Linscott
Phil and Kathy McKnight
James and Catherine Miller
David Wilson Milne and Joyce Harris Milne
Kelly A. Morgan
Carol Perkins
Ralph Peterson
Florence Anne Sasso
Elizabeth* and Wynn* Sayman
Mary Silks
Sam and Elizabeth Smith
John* and Jid Sprague
Lawrence Strauss
Laurel Trahan
Vera V.J. Weintraub
Anonymous (30)

*Deceased

The funds below are designated to receive a bequest from a generous donor.

Dr. Bernard and Eleanor Auge Family Fund
Community Fund
Crofut Family Fund
Dorsoduro Family Fund
Fund for Mt. Washington
JB2 Fund
Mario Fund
McCarthy Family Fund
Pine Grove Cemetery Fund
Whistler's Brother

Learn how to build your legacy through planning giving >

Board of Directors

Our board members care deeply about our communities and bring knowledge, passion and commitment to their work.

Longtime board members Dr. Richard B. Weininger and Pamela R. Green were elected as our new chair and vice chair, respectively, in June 2021. Richard, a resident of Claverack, N.Y., is a health care entrepreneur who has founded several health care management companies over the last two decades. Pamela is a partner at the law firm of Smith Green & Gold LLP in her hometown of Pittsfield, Mass.

We welcomed Peter Frank of Hudson, N.Y., and Jane Iredale of Great Barrington, Mass., to our board in 2020. Bryan House of Housatonic, Mass., and Trey Muldrow of Taghkanic, N.Y., joined our board this year.


Dr. Richard B. Weininger Chair Claverack, NY	Pamela R. Green Vice Chair Pittsfield, MA	Emilie M. Pryor Secretary West Cornwall, CT	Jodi K. Rathbun-Briggs Treasurer Great Barrington, MA	Ellen C. Boyd West Stockbridge, MA

Dr. Peter Dillon Stockbridge, MA	Peter Frank Hudson, NY	Thaddeus Gray Lakeville, CT	Nancy N. Hathaway Millbrook, NY	Elizabeth R. Hilpman Norfolk, CT

Bryan E. House Housatonic, MA	Nancy Humphreys Lakeville, CT	Jane Iredale Great Barrington, MA	Suzette Brooks Masters Canaan, NY	Kelly A. Morgan Pine Plains, NY

Ackneil M. Muldrow, III Taghkanic, NY	Bob Norris Great Barrington, MA	David Offensend Wassaic, NY	Eleanore Velez Lee, MA

Our Region

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation serves the area where New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts meet, 2,200 square miles of natural beauty and small-town charm that is home to nearly 230,000 people. Working in four counties for more than 30 years, we have helped mobilize nearly $184 million to help our communities thrive by funding education, health services, basic human needs, the arts and environmental protection.

An emergency grant to Berkshire South Regional Community Center helped fund summer camp in 2020, which moved from its indoor location to Camp Half Moon to keep campers and staff safe. Photo by John Dolan.

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2020

Message from Our President

Highlights of Our Work in 2020

BERKSHIRE COUNTY

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Columbia County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Grantees

Columbia County Business Continuity Fund Grantees

NORTHEAST DUTCHESS COUNTY

Responsive Grants — Spring 2020

Pivoting to Respond Grants — Fall 2020

Pivoting to Respond Grants co-funded by the Northeast Dutchess Fund and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley*

Pivoting to Respond Grants funded by the Northeast Dutchess Fund

NORTHWEST LITCHFIELD COUNTY

RAPID RESPONSE GRANTEES — MARCH AND APRIL 2020

RELIEF GRANTEES — MAY 2020

By the Numbers

Investment Report

New funds

New Marlborough Meeting House opened a nonprofit agency fund to maintain and repair the performance and event space on the village green. Photo by Lee Backer, courtesy New Marlborough Meeting House.

Professional Advisors

Legacy Circle

Board of Directors

Our Region