Berkshire Bank and its charitable arms, Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc and Berkshire Bank Foundation ‘ Legacy Region, contributed $8,478to United Way organizations in the Southern Vermont through its 2012 United Way workplace campaign. The money raised includes a corporate matching donation from the Foundation of $4,239 and employee contributions of $4,239.
The matching contribution from the bank’s charitable Foundation was a new effort in 2012 to help increase employee participation in the campaign while also recognizing the tremendous work United Way does in the community. Three different United Ways received support from Berkshire Bank in Southern Vermontincluding the United Way of Bennington County, Granite United Way, and the United Way of Rutland County.
Lori Gazzillo, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations at Berkshire Bank said ‘We are so pleased to be able to support these critical organizations in such a significant way. As one of many employers in Southern Vermont, we are excited by the response of our team members who really came together to support this effort. The dollars raised for United Way go directly to many meaningful programs throughout our region meeting important needs. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed the United Way this year.’
In addition to monetary giving, the Foundation oversees the bank’s growing Employee Volunteer Program that carries out group community service projects benefiting schools, non-profit organizations and communities within the bank’s service area. In 2011, Berkshire Bank employees completed 67 volunteer projects in which over 50 percent of Berkshire’s 800 employees participated donating over 26,000 hours of service through both company-sponsored and individual volunteer efforts to help their local communities. Last month, Berkshire Bank received National Recognition from the American Banker Association for their community service efforts through their Employee Volunteer Program.
Background
Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc and Berkshire Bank Foundation ‘ Legacy Region the charitable arms of Berkshire Bank,America’s Most Exciting BankSM, are leaders in philanthropy and community involvement. The foundations’ mission is to enhance the quality of life in Berkshire Bank’s footprint by providing priority funding to education and community/economic development projects.They also fund programs dedicated to the arts, education, and human services. Each year the two foundations award nearly $1.3 million to nonprofit organizations in their footprint. For more information, visitwww.berkshirebank.com/foundation, ‘Like’ them onwww.facebook.com/BerkshireBankor call Peter J. Lafayette, Executive Director at413-447-1722.
Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank ‘America’s Most Exciting BankSM. The Company has more than $4 billion in assets and 59 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. Berkshire Bank provides 100% deposit insurance protection for all deposit accounts, regardless of amount, based on a combination of FDIC insurance and theDepositors Insurance Fund(DIF).Berkshire has a pending agreement to acquire CBT ‘ The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, visitwww.berkshirebank.comor call800-773-5601.
Berkshire Bank. 4.2.2012.