NEWS & UPDATES | JULY 2024 | |
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The BRIDGE Youth Corps gathered at the new Solidarity Meeting House, a multipurpose program and gathering space with a professional kitchen in Great Barrington, Mass., supported by a Community Development Block Grant for Food Security administered by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. BRIDGE was recently featured in The Berkshire Edge Business Spotlight Multicultural BRIDGE—catalyzing change and integration.
Pictured above L-R: Deisy Bautista Santos, Leader-in-Training for Happiness Toolbox and Solidarity Steward Projects; Stella Wright, Program Assistant and Youth Coordinator; Jonathan Bautista Santos, Lead Youth Solidarity Steward Projects; David Bautista Santos, Youth Leader Solidarity Steward Projects; and Florence Afanukoe, Lead Engagement Coordinator of Youth Development and Public Health. Photo by John Dolan.
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Equity Fund Launches: A BIPOC Grant Program Spanning Four Counties | | |
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We are proud to announce the launch of our Equity Fund grant program! We invite local organizations, individuals, and coalitions to apply for funding to advance projects that advance equity and inclusion. Grantmaking decisions are made by leaders of color in collaboration with our communities. Please share this opportunity with your network!
Read full announcement and guidelines. | |
Four New Board Members Join Berkshire Taconic | |
Top: Karen Byers, Carol Flaton; Bottom: Michael Obasohan, Matt King. | |
We are pleased to announce four new members to our board of directors—Karen Byers, former Managing Director and CFO of The John & Mary R. Markle Foundation; Carol Flaton, a former banking and finance professional; Matthew King, Senior Counsel for Google; and Michael Obasohan, Chief Diversity Officer for the City of Pittsfield. Read more. | |
Over $6M in Grants To-Date in 2024 | |
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has distributed a total of $6,719,660.90 to individuals and nonprofits in our region so far in 2024. Funding comes from individual donors who give through charitable funds at the Foundation and competitive grant programs administered by local volunteer committees and Foundation staff members.
Read more.
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Fund for Columbia County's Midyear Report | Read news from our nonprofit grantee partners and learn about our Area Fund for Columbia County. | |
Salisbury After-School Program Helps Students S.O.A.R. | |
Students drum in S.O.A.R.'s after-school music class. Photo by John Dolan. | |
Salisbury Central School in Connecticut offers a unique and rich array of after-school classes that serve over 300 students each year. At the core of this programming is the innovative nonprofit S.O.A.R. Its mission is to give students hands-on experiences to discover new interests and skills, experiment, and gain confidence in learning. Read more. | |
Local Journalism in Northeast Dutchess County | |
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The New Pine Plains Herald is a first-time grantee of the Northeast Dutchess Fund. This online local news outlet, founded in 2022, focuses on the towns of Pine Plains, Ancram, Gallatin, Milan, and Stanford. Its mission is to provide a reliable online source of local news and information that has been carefully researched and reported and to encourage civil discourse. Visit The New Pine Plains Herald.
BTCF supports local journalism as a pillar of strong communities that promote civic engagement.
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Upcoming Events Supported by BTCF | | |
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July 27
Visit Us! Millbrook Horse Trials
BTCF will have a booth on Saturday, 7/27, at the weekend-long Millbrook Horse Trials. Recognized for its beautiful campus and facilities, the MHT is a competition for horse dressage, cross country, stadium jumping, alongside trade fairs, food, a petting zoo and more—come say hello! See the full weekend schedule.
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July 27
17th Annual Jane Lloyd Clambake
This year's Clambake benefiting the Jane Lloyd Fund will take place Saturday, July 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. at SWSA’s Satre Hill in Salisbury. Enjoy a day filled with mouthwatering seafood, live music, and the warm embrace of community spirit. Proceeds from this charitable fund administered by BTCF assist families battling cancer with their day-to-day living expenses. Learn about the Jane Lloyd Fund and get tickets.
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Apply by August 17
Business Accelerator, EforAll Berkshire County
The Accelerator is a free, one-year program offered twice a year in EforAll communities. It provides immersive business training, mentorship, and access to an extended professional network. Anyone with a dream to start or grow a business is encouraged to apply by August 17, and classes begin on September 15. EforAll is supported by BTCF's Community Fund.
Learn more and apply.
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ICYMI: BTCF News Spring 2024
In case you missed it—read through our spring issue of BTCF News, which includes our 2023 report to the community.
Community Connections
- Career Readiness Programs
- Arts Enrichment at the Wassaic Project
- Portraits of Generosity: Deb Lans
- Ceramics at the Art Garage
- Report to the Community 2023
| | Applications for fall grants open in September. | | Learn about our six charitable fund types that help you tailor your giving. | | Donate directly to an existing BTCF fund. | | | | |
