Berkshire Bank completed its Xtraordinary Day on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. This event was the first year that the entire Bank participated in community service events concurrently from 1pm - 4pm, closing the entire financial institution as a united effort for community involvement.
During Xtraordinary Day, 95% of the Berkshire Bank team, which equates to 1,161 employees, completed 56 projects. From painting of elementary schools and cleanups of local parks to financial literacy lessons, over 4,500 hours of service were contributed, a value of $128,000. The projects helped 54 different nonprofit organizations and directly impacted more than 100,000 individuals across the Bank’s footprint.
Berkshire Bank’s goal with Xtraordinary Day was to affect the communities that support it every day in a significant way, by being active and immersed in projects that would have a meaningful and lasting impact on these communities. America’s Most Exciting Bank is not a sentiment meant to be spoken, but felt by all regions that the Bank seats itself within. Xtraordinary Day was an innovative approach to the XTEAM, Employee Volunteer Program’s everyday method. By closing its doors for an entire afternoon, Berkshire Bank intended to show the true power of giving back on a grand scale.
“Berkshire Bank’s Xtraordinary Day was intended to create a sense of unity through all of our employees and within our communities. We are challenged every day to prove why we are America’s Most Exciting Bank, and wanted to take a revolutionary approach to our volunteer service, go out into our communities and live out the promise of the America’s Most Exciting Bank® brand,” said Tami M. Gunsch, Executive Vice President of Berkshire Bank. “Through our efforts during our Xtraordinary Day, we were able to dedicate ourselves to the culture that we live by every day and further draw our customers deeper into our brand,” she added.
The day’s projects benefitted nonprofit organizations and communities across the Bank’s footprint in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont. This year’s activities included:
Berkshire County, MA – Painting at Stearns Elementary School, Egremont Elementary School and Boys & Girls Club, Camp Russell; Downtown guide assembly at Downtown Pittsfield; Clean-up ofCity of Pittsfield Parks, Greenagers Housatonic River Walk and Berkshire Athenaeum; Home build with Northern Berkshire Habitat For Humanity; Tree measuring with Trustees of Reservations Bartholomew’s Cobble; 4th-6th grade literacy at Farmington River Regional School.
Pioneer Valley, MA – Clean-up of Stanley Park, YMCA of Westfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Childrens Museum, Birthday Wishes and Girls Inc. of Greenfield; House build and restore for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity; Bike build at YMCA of Greater Springfield; Administrative duties at Children’s Study Home; Tree planting at ReGreen Springfield; Truck unloading at Community Survival Center.
Central MA – Stocking shelves at Marlborough Community Cupboard; Summer camp prep at YMCA of Central Mass.
Eastern MA – Giving Factory at Cradles to Crayons; Food Sorting and meal prep at Centre Street Food Pantry and Community Servings; Shelter cleaning and dog walking at Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts; Birthdays in a Box at Birthday Wishes.
Capital District, NY – Food sorting and land farm help at Regional Food Bank of NENY; Gardening, landscaping and clean-up of Brenna Humane Society, Northern Rivers-NE Parent & Child, Northern Rivers-Parsons Family Center, Berkshire Farm Children Center and Rebuilding Together Saratoga; Dog walking and cat grooming at Animal Protective Foundation and Columbia Greene Humane Society.
Central NY - Clerical work and cleaning at Make A Wish; Painting and clean-up at Veterans Outreach Center and Mohawk Valley Homestead; Gardening and painting at Franciscan Northside Ministriesand Rome Rescue Mission; Cleaning and serving dinner at Samaritan Center.
Connecticut – Financial literacy kits at United Way; Riverfront clean-up at Riverfront ReCapture; Food sorting at Vernon Food Pantry.
Vermont – Trail Clean-up of Manchester Riverwalk; Food sorting with Rutland Food Bank; Gardening and landscaping with Bennington Museum.
Through foundation grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, environmental programs, and employee volunteerism, Berkshire Bank is making a difference. Each year the Foundation donates over $1.8 million to nonprofits 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. This year, Berkshire Bank and NESN teamed up to raise $38,000 for Habitat for Humanity by donating funds to the Hockey 4 Housing campaign each time the Boston Bruins achieved a penalty kill.
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.