Berkshire United Way

09/03/2026

The NinjaFit Playground in Lee is officially open and we were there for the ribbon cutting on August 22 as a proud supporter of this project by Neighborhood Ninjas. Only the second in the U.S., we hope it leads to more like it across the nation. Good luck Alex and team!

Our Marketing and Communications Manager Karrie Buratto brought children's books (we had some excited takers) and was even able to hop into the sponsor photo (as seen in The Berkshire Edge).

Read more about the event from our local media:
Berkshire Eagle » https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/ninja-warrior-playground-lee/article_4820831c-cd50-48bb-8acf-b34d815c6bba.html
iBerkshires.com » https://www.iberkshires.com/story/83767/New-Ninja-Playground-Opens-in-Lee.html
The Berkshire Edge » https://theberkshireedge.com/overcoming-obstacles-lee-celebrates-ninjafit-playgrounds-grand-opening/

09/01/2026

Join us for our annual Community Campaign Kickoff on Thursday, September 17 at 8:00 a.m. at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

This special event brings together employees, business leaders, nonprofit partners, donors, and neighbors to celebrate the incredible generosity of our community – and the power of working together to help every person in Berkshire County thrive.

Tickets are $35. *New this year – complimentary tickets for our Employee Campaign Coordinators and Funded Partners*

By becoming a sponsor, you help make this signature event possible while sending a powerful message that local businesses and nonprofit partners play a vital role in advancing opportunities for individuals and families throughout the Berkshires. *Thank you to event sponsor Berkshire Regional Planning Commission*

Learn more and register to join us on September 17 » https://www.berkshireunitedway.org/events/campaign-kickoff

08/31/2026

Check out our August newsletter » https://conta.cc/4xUQJNg

Don't want to miss our quarterly updates (or occasional special event reminders)? Sign up today » https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/pfDOKZV/BUWquarterlynewsletter

08/28/2026

We were happy to connect our neighbors MacFarlane Office Products with our funded partner Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Inc. to provide backpacks filled with school supplies in honor of MacFarlane's 75th year. Congrats on the milestone and have a great first day of school kiddos.

Thank you so much to our friends at MacFarlane Office Products for donating over 80 stuffed to the brim backpacks for our school age kids to start the new year off right.

Being a part of a community with partners like Berkshire United Way and MacFarlane Office Products, shows us how committed we all are to seeing kids reach their highest potential.

08/27/2026

Our President and CEO Katherine von Haefen and a cohort from Berkshire County (see photo caption) joined Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier and state education leaders Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of the MA Dept of Early Education and Care, and Secretary Steve Zrike at Tuesday's event officially announcing the $2M funding awarded to support four initiatives to help expand childcare options for working families.

As Katherine stated about receiving this award: “We are so thrilled for this opportunity for Berkshire County families and employers. We know that finding affordable childcare is a huge issue for too many of our local households and this opportunity will allow for innovative ways to provide support to our important hospitality industry and to Greylock Federal Credit Union employees.”

Read the press release from the Healey-Driscoll Administration » https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-highlights-2-million-to-expand-child-care-options-for-working-families

Berkshire County Head Start
18 Degrees Family Services for Western MA
TOURISTS Welcome
Luminary Evaluation
Berkshire Community College

08/27/2026

Thank you to team Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier for capturing this moment. We were excited to be in Gardner with our Berkshire cohort involved in the Tri-Share Pilot – 1 of only 4 initiatives in MA to receive a grant from the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund.

08/25/2026

The BUW board – current and new members (stay tuned for introductions) – plus BUW leadership spent all day Friday learning and workshopping to better understand our challenges, celebrate our impact, and talk strategy to successfully support our organization. The BUW team appreciates how dedicated and involved our board is and how they put the work in to support our mission.

Thank you to Hillcrest Educational Centers for being such a gracious and accommodating host to our board and team.

Get to know our current and new board members (new member bios to come) » https://www.berkshireunitedway.org/board-directors

08/21/2026

We're excited to finally see Berkshire County's first Ninjafit Playground at the Lee Athletic Field, thanks to Neighborhood Ninjas. As a supporter through our Venture Fund, we'll be there for the ribbon cutting and we'll have children's books. See you there.

08/20/2026

Sharing for our friends over at The Center (Christian Center Pittsfield). What an exciting time – new name, big community day. We dropped off a few bags of children's books 📚 so they can help us distribute them among kids and families this Saturday.

08/19/2026

The Williams Elementary School PTO has successfully raised funds to get a new inclusive playground installed. BUT, they need volunteers. We're helping out by posting the need in our Volunteer Center. Learn more and sign up (they have a link to a form) » https://www.volunteerberkshireuw.org/need/detail/?need_id=1302708