PITTSFIELD, MA, September 12, 2017 – Berkshire Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank® announced today that it was honored by the Boston Business Journal as one the state's most philanthropic companies during the 12th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards ceremony.
The 94 companies that were honored by the Boston Business Journal each met the threshold of at least $100,000 in philanthropic support of Massachusetts nonprofits in 2016. They combined for an approximately $273 million in charitable giving last year. List includes companies that paid out at least $100,000 to Mass.-based charitable organizations in fiscal 2016. Berkshire Bank ranked #46 for total financial contributions with over $1.2 million donated in Massachusetts alone and more than $2 million donated overall. Massachusetts based Bank employees also donated more than 28,000 hours of volunteer service. Berkshire Bank joined a select list of statewide, national and international companies honored at the event.
The award recognized Berkshire Banks' philanthropic investments in the community through their charitable grants, corporate giving, scholarships, in-kind donations and employee volunteerism. Annually and the Berkshire Bank Foundation provide more than $2 million to important community organizations as well as scholarships to high school seniors with a record of academic excellence and financial need. 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 2016, 100% of Berkshire Bank's employees donated 40,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank's service area. This year, Berkshire completed its signature Xtraordinary Day in which 92% of its employees completed 65 service projects nationally impacting more than 435,000 individuals all in one day.
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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 Foundation donates $2 million to nonprofits throughout the Bank's footprint and 100% of bank employees provide over 40,000 hours of service through their XTEAM® corporate volunteer program. Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts' Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal in 2017. To learn more about Berkshire Bank Foundation, visit 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 $9.6 billion in assets and 97 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey and Pennsylvania providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. The Company has a pending agreement to acquire Commerce Bancshares Corp., the parent company of Commerce Bank and Trust Company, a $2.2 billion bank with 16 branches in the Worcester, MA and Boston, MA markets. To learn more, visit 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 and the community partner of Boston Seasons at City Hall Plaza.
Contact: Heidi Higgins
Berkshire Bank
Phone: (413) 236-3756
E-Mail: hhiggins@berkshirebank.com