Berkshire Bank is excited to announce that they have awarded forty high school seniors with a record $100,000 in scholarship funds through the Berkshire Bank Foundation Scholarship Awards Program. Each of these recipients will receive $2,500 to further their education.
In response to the federal tax reform at the start of 2018, Berkshire Bank announced that a contribution would be made to the Foundation to bolster its endowment and enhance its giving. As a result of this additional funding, the Foundation was able to increase the total scholarship funds to $100,000 increasing each individual scholarship to $2,500. A team of 200 Berkshire Bank employee volunteers selected the winners from nearly 300 applications.
The students were awarded their scholarships in early May at their local branch by bank employees. This year’s Vermont recipients include:
- Suzanne Allen: Stratton, VT -Burr and Burton Academy
- Sadie Wood: Proctorsville, VT -Green Mountain Union High School
- Julia Celentano: Rutland, VT -Rutland High School
The scholarship awards recognize students that have exemplified community service through their volunteer efforts, have been successful academically and have a financial need. The program highlights the Foundation’s support for education and the bank’s commitment to promote volunteerism in the community.
Just as these scholarship recipients play an active role in their communities, Berkshire Bank encourages its employees to play an active role in theirs through the XTEAM, their nationally acclaimed Employee Volunteer Program, which provides paid time off to employees to volunteer during regular business hours. Last year 100% of the bank’s employees participated in the program and donated 40,000 hours of volunteer service. Berkshire Bank believes that promoting volunteerism at an early age will benefit both the volunteers and communities and will lead to on-going community involvement.
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 www.berkshirebank.com/community.
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank®, is recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, relationship customer experience and distinctive culture. With $11.5 billion in assets, Berkshire provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management, investment and insurance services through 114 full service branch offices, including Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank, in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 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.