In celebration of its 200th anniversary, Liberty Bank is giving $1,825 to a local organization in each of the towns where it has a branch. It is donating a total of $87,600 to 48 organizations.
The 48 organizations were selected by Liberty Bank customers. More than 10,000 votes were tallied.
Liberty Bank’s branch in East Longmeadow gave its $1,825 donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield.
In addition, Liberty Bank Foundation is celebrating the bank’s anniversary by donating $250,000 to Make-A-Wish, and will partner with Hands on Hartford to provide more than 200 weekend meal kits for children in need. Working with the Max Restaurant Group, Liberty Bank will donate 200 Thanksgiving dinner boxes to area families in need, and it will build 200 bikes that will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford. Teammates also recently assembled more than 200 Birthday Boxes to be delivered to local pantries.
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Meyers Brothers Kalicka PC in Holyoke hosted a rally for the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Massachusetts, welcoming athletes, law enforcement officers, and supporters as they carried the Flame of Hope throughout Massachusetts.
The event was held at People’s Bank headquarters, spearheaded by Lauren Foley, senior associate, and Christopher Soderberg, accounting and assurance supervisor of MBK. They brought together employees from MBK and other businesses in People’s Bank headquarters to show their support for the Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers across the state
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a worldwide movement that raises awareness to champion acceptance and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
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As part of Berkshire’s signature week of community service, 700 Berkshire Bank employees volunteered with 31 nonprofits to help lift up the places they live and work during the bank’s “Xtraordinary Week” (X Week) of giving back.
Employees participated in more than 35 projects to help address issues like hunger and homelessness and aim to enhance the future well-being of those who live in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island.
In the Pioneer Valley, employees volunteered with the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center in Springfield, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee and White Oak School in Westfield.
Berkshire employees also actively volunteer throughout the year. They achieved a milestone in 2024: 100% volunteered in their communities through more than 250 company-sponsored projects with more than 11,500 hours of service. In addition to the hours contributed through X Week, Berkshire employees are eligible for up to 16 hours of paid time off annually to volunteer with nonprofits of their choice.
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Ludlow’s marketing and tourism campaign, “Get Lost in Ludlow,” was recently recognized by the PR Club of New England at the 57th annual Bell Ringer Awards.
It was announced that the Get Lost in Ludlow campaign earned a Merit Award in the Hospitality/Travel/Entertainment Industry Campaign category. This effort was the only Hospitality/Travel/Entertainment campaign to receive a Bell Ringer from the PR Club this year.
The campaign, which invites visitors and the surrounding community to discover Ludlow and “get lost” in all that the town has to offer, was launched in July 2024 as part of the town’s receipt of grant funding courtesy of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund.
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After nearly a decade of leadership, Jane Ralph will step down as executive director of Construct effective Aug. 29.
Since assuming the role in 2016, Ralph has led growth in Construct’s services, including support to help people remain in their homes, temporary housing for families, the development of new affordable housing at Forest Springs in Great Barrington and the county’s first co-living workforce housing at The Windflower in Egremont. Construct has also expanded its housing navigation services for individuals and families facing housing insecurity.
When Ralph became Construct’s third executive director nine years ago, they were the only full-time staff member. This August, they’ll leave behind 11 full-time and two part-time employees.
The board of directors has formed a search committee for a new leader.
An event will be held to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Ralph and her team over the past nine years. The event will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. at Construct’s main office at 316A State Road, Great Barrington.
Community members and partners are invited to attend. RSVP at constructberkshires.org.
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