Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards Nearly $10,000 To Four Connecticut Non-Profits

Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards Nearly $10,000 To Four Connecticut Non-Profits

PITTSFIELD, MASS, October 7, 2015 – Berkshire Bank Foundation announced that it has awarded $9,500 in grants and pledges to four non-profit organizations in Connecticut during their third quarter grants cycle.

The funding from Berkshire Bank Foundation supported a variety of organizations including:

  • Connecticut Historical Society based in Hartford, CT  received a grant to support their Free First Saturday Family Programs. 
  • InterCommunity Recovery Centers based in East Hartford, CT received a grant to support the construction of a new storefront corridor and safety improvements at their Women’s Recovery Corridor in Hartford. 
  • Mercy Housing & Shelter Corp based in Hartford, CT  received a grant to support their Jumpstart to Jobs program. 
  • Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters based in Hartford, CT received a grant to support their community based mentoring programs in Hartford and Tolland counties. 

Lori Gazzillo, Vice President and Foundation Director said, “We are proud to provide these non-profit organizations that are all doing important work to contribute to the economic and educational vitality of our communities. We are proud to play a small role in all of their efforts and look forward to working together to make our communities stronger.” 

In addition to financial support, the XTEAM®, the bank’s nationally acclaimed Employee Volunteer Program, provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. In 2014, over 70% of Berkshire Bank’s employees provided more than 40,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank’s service area. The volunteer program is another way for the bank to give back to the communities where it does business. In recognition of their work in the community, Berkshire Bank has received more than two dozen awards and accolades, most recently being named by the Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts Most Charitable Companies for the third consecutive year. 


About Berkshire Bank Foundation

Through foundation grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, and employee volunteerism, Berkshire Bank is making a difference. Each year the Foundation donates nearly $1.6 million to non-profits in the bank’s footprint and employees provide over 40,000 hours of service —all on the company dime. In 2015, Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal. This year, Berkshire Bank and NESN teamed up to raise $37,600 for Habitat for Humanity by donating funds to the Hockey 4 Housing campaign each time the Boston Bruins achieved a penalty kill. To learn more about Berkshire Bank Foundation, visit www.berkshirebank.com/community 

About Berkshire Bank

Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank, America’s Most Exciting Bank®.  The Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and distinctive culture, has $7.5 billion in assets and 93 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services.  In 2015, Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal.  To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601.  Berkshire Bank is the official bank of the Boston Bruins coverage on NESN.  

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Media Contact:  

Heidi Higgins

AVP Marketing 

hhiggins@berkshirebank.com 

(413) 236-3756