With a passion for giving and community-building, Vera 'Tinny' Weintraub has become a cornerstone of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s efforts to create lasting change in the region. Since 2009, she has been a dedicated ambassador for Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF), and an early supporter of the Foundation’s Equity Initiative as a founding member of the Learning and Giving Circle. Her deep engagement also includes serving three terms on BTCF’s Board of Directors (2009–2018) and contributing her expertise on key advisory bodies, such as the Program Committee and the Stewardship Committee. Notably, Tinny played an active role in the advisory committee for the Fund for Columbia County (FCC), one of BTCF’s nine geographically specific funds—one that holds special meaning for her, as it was her introduction to the Foundation's work.
While still living in New York City, Tinny and her husband, Myles, often visited friends in Columbia County. Their bond with the area grew, leading them to build a home in Germantown in 1996. At that time, Tinny served as Executive Director of Literacy Inc. (LINC), a New York City nonprofit that connects community resources to bring the joy of reading to families with young children. In 2008, Tinny connected with the FCC through a grant that supported LINC’s work in Hudson, New York, where a local resident partnered with schools, libraries, and families to foster connections around books and reading. This program, based in Bliss Towers, ran for several years, empowering families to embrace reading as a source of pleasure, confidence, and belonging, even across language barriers.
Inspired by the potential to rally community support around such transformative projects, Tinny became an FCC advisory committee member. Her contributions to early education and literacy programs enriched the lives of children in Columbia County. Reflecting on her long-standing relationship with BTCF, Tinny speaks with pride about the Foundation’s evolution over two decades. She has witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact of donors, colleagues, and community members working together. The pandemic, she notes, only strengthened her admiration for BTCF, praising its “amazing” response. Tinny is particularly energized by the growth of the Fund for Columbia County, which now distributes over $350,000 in grants annually—a far cry from the early days when the committee would spend hours debating how to allocate just $500. "How things have changed," she muses.
Tinny wishes that community foundations were better understood. Adamant that she is a “modest donor,” she’d like to dispel the myth, for instance, that legacy planning involves monumental sums. She was eager to join the Berkshire Taconic Legacy Circle, donating a portion of her Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to create a lasting gift for communities beyond her lifetime. She found the process straightforward and gratifying, knowing her philanthropy will benefit future generations. For someone who has championed BTCF’s mission in so many capacities, this is a fitting legacy.
Perhaps most impressive is the genuine enthusiasm Tinny brings as she continues to inspire others to serve and contribute. This, too, is her legacy. She has demonstrated just how many ways there are to give.
