PITTSFIELD, MA April 26, 2016 – Berkshire Bank Foundation has announced that it will provide $38,000 to Habitat for Humanity affiliates as part of its Hockey4Housing partnership with NESN’s coverage of the Boston Bruins. As part of the initiative, the Foundation and philanthropic arm of Berkshire Bank, America’s Most Exciting Bank®, agreed to donate $200 for each successful Boston Bruins penalty kill during games between November 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016. A penalty kill is the moment during a hockey game when one team, with fewer players on the ice due to a penalty, prevents the opposing team from scoring.
At the conclusion of the season, the total funds collected were $38,000, which will be distributed evenly among 12 New England Habitat affiliates within Berkshire Bank’s footprint. They include:
- Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity
- Rutland Region Habitat for Humanity
- Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
- Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity
- Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity
- Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
- Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
- Habitat for Humanity of Metro-West
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell
- South Shore Habitat for Humanity
- Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity
In addition to the financial support, Bank employees will help build Habitat for Humanity homes in communities across New England where Berkshire has an office. Employees will have the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat through the company’s XTEAM, Berkshire Bank’s award winning employee volunteer program. Hockey4Housing highlights the Bank’s support for housing initiatives and its dedication to giving back to the community in order for individuals to make the most of life’s exciting moments.
“We are so pleased to continue to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity through this fun program in partnership with NESN,” said Lori Gazzillo, Director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. “Owning a home is an exciting endeavor. We commend Habitat on their work of guiding people, who would otherwise not have that opportunity, toward the dream of homeownership, as well as their continued efforts to sustain them in their homes.”
About Berkshire Bank Foundation
Through foundation grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, environmental programs, and employee volunteerism, Berkshire Bank is making a difference. Each year the Foundations donates over $1.8 million to non-profits in the bank’s footprint and employees provide over 40,000 hours of volunteer service. In 2015, Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal. 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 $7.8 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. Berkshire Bank is the home financing and retail banking provider for the Massachusetts Teachers Association Benefits, MTA. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Berkshire Bank, is the official bank of NESN’s Boston Bruins coverage.
Media Contact:
Heidi Higgins
AVP Marketing
hhiggins@berkshirebank.com
(413) 236-3756