Berkshire Bank has long been a leader in philanthropy and community involvement.  It demonstrates its commitment to the communities it does business in through its charitable contributions, volunteerism and civic leadership. The Berkshire Bank Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in donations to non-profit organizations since its inception and plans to award more than $1 million in 2010. The Foundation only makes donations to non-profit organizations in regions where Berkshire Bank does business.  These include all of Berkshire and Hampden Counties and a portion of Hampshire County in Massachusetts, and communities in eastern New York and southern Vermont served by Berkshire Bank.

In addition to grant awards, the Bank has an active Employee Volunteer Program that carries out group community service projects benefiting schools, non-profit organizations and communities where the Bank does business. In 2009, more than 40% of the Bank’s 625 employees participated in 22 projects sponsored by the Volunteer Program. The projects included school tutoring and mentoring programs, park cleanups, landscaping projects, community room renovations, school playground upgrades, Relay for Life walks, Bowl-a-Thons, United Way Fund Drives and a company-wide food drive to benefit local food banks and food pantries.  In addition to these projects, hundreds of employees volunteer or hold leadership positions with human service organizations, animal care programs, youth sports, scouting programs and community development organizations.

All of these efforts fulfill the goal of the Bank to help create healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities where educational and economic opportunities are available for everyone.