Berkshire Bank and its charitable arms, Berkshire Bank Foundation and Berkshire Bank Foundation ‘ Legacy Region, contributed $258,530 to local United Ways as part of its 2013 workplace campaign.
The money raised includes corporate donations of $85,000, employee contributions of $135,353, matching donations of $35,943 and employee fundraisers that generated an additional $2,234. The fundraisers included Berkshire Bank’ s BBAY raffle during which donated items were auctioned off to the highest employee bidder.
The United Way organizations supported by Berkshire Bank include: the Berkshire United Way; Northern Berkshire United Way; United Way of Franklin County; United Way of the Pioneer Valley; United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley; United Way of Rutland County Vermont; Granite United Way; United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut; United Way of Rome and Western Oneida County; United Way of Central New York; the Tri-County United Way; and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region.
Outside of Berkshire County, where Berkshire Bank is headquartered, the Foundation matched employee United Way contributions dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per region. Additionally, the Foundation provided a corporate contribution to the Berkshire United Way.
‘ We are so pleased to be able to support our local United Ways," Lori Gazzillo, assistant vice president of Community Relations at Berkshire Bank said. " We are excited by the response of our team members throughout Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Connecticut, who really came together to support this effort. The dollars raised for United Way go directly to many meaningful programs throughout our markets meeting important community needs.’