Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Fund for Williamstown Uses Money for Urgent Needs

May 13, 2009

Williamstown, MA—The Fund for Williamstown and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that in recognition of the current economic crisis, the Fund for Williamstown has chosen to concentrate the majority of its grant money, $20,000, to set up a Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) program for emergency assistance. N2N is a new initiative that will be administered by the Williamstown Food Pantry and will help provide basic essentials such as food, medications, housing and utilities for residents of Williamstown who are in economic distress.

This year the Fund for Williamstown encouraged applications to support initiatives and programs that are critical to sustaining the community in difficult times. “This is not a normal year for our communities,” said Liz Costley, chair of the fund’s advisory board, “and because of this, we cannot be in ‘business as usual’ mode. We need to make sure that our fund is supporting those who need it most.”

The Fund for Williamstown’s N2N initiative is the first of a region-wide effort by Berkshire Taconic to provide immediate assistance to individuals and families who are in difficult financial circumstances and who need an emergency financial boost to help stabilize their immediate situation. N2N funds are not intended for long-term or ongoing assistance, but for strategic intervention to help achieve a measure of stability and avert further crises.

“We are thrilled that the Fund for Williamstown is spearheading our regional effort to provide emergency assistance to those in dire need,” said Jennifer Dowley, President of Berkshire Taconic. The foundation plans to have N2N initiatives throughout its region over the next few months.

The Fund for Williamstown gave the remainder of its grant money to two other Williamstown initiatives: $2,700 to Barbara Walsh to expand the outfield of Broad Brook Park for girls’ softball and $2,300 to Elder Services of Berkshire County for its Meals on Wheel program, which delivers hot, nutritious meals to the homes of Williamstown seniors. In 2008, Elder Services delivered 13,000 meals to seniors in Williamstown.

The Fund for Williamstown was formed in 2006 as a community effort to build an endowment to support innovative programs and services that enhance the quality of life for residents of Williamstown. The fund serves as a permanent resource to help make life safer, healthier, fuller and more enjoyable for members of the community. It is an endowment of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2008 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $9 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

###