Participants in Railroad Street Youth Project's Youth Mentoring Program at a Boston Celltics game in February 2017. The program is one of 12 recipients of grants from the Jewish Women's Foundation of Berkshire County (see item below). Photo: Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Business Briefs: Freeman Center financial class; Jewish Women’s Foundation awards grants; healthcare sign-up seminar; ‘Time Abundance for Driven Women’

Money School is an award-winning financial independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors of domestic or sexual violence

Elizabeth Freeman Center to offer Money School

Pittsfield — The Elizabeth Freeman Center will offer Money School, a five-week financial independence series for people impacted by domestic or sexual violence, on consecutive Tuesdays Nov. 7 through Dec. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Money School is an award-winning financial independence initiative designed to create long-term safety and economic security for survivors of domestic or sexual violence. The series offers financial workshops, income resources, one-on-one financial coaches from local banks and more covering topics such as rebuilding credit, accessing benefits, building supports, getting by now and building toward a financial future. A $125 stipend will be offered as well as free dinner, childcare, networking with other resource providers in the community and ongoing supports.

For more information or to register, contact Donna, Money School facilitator, at (413) 499-2425 x613 or donnal@elizabethfreemancenter.org.

–E.E.

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Jewish Women’s Foundation awards nearly $25,000 in grants

Pittsfield — The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Berkshire County has announced the recipients of its grants for 2017, which totaled nearly $25,000. The foundation awards grants that promote its mission of tikkun olam, a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. Foundation members contribute a minimum of $500 to the foundation each year and are offered the opportunity to serve on an advisory grant committee that decides how the funds are distributed.

Grants between $1,200 and $2,800 were awarded to the Alchemy Initiative’s Downtown Pittsfield Farmers’ Market, Berkshire Baby Box, Berkshire Community Diaper Project, Barrington Stage Company’s Playwright Mentoring Project, Berkshire Children and Families’ Kids 4 Harmony program, Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s Project Connection, Berkshire Pulse, Center for Peace through Culture, Construct Inc.’s THRIVE program, Literacy Network of South Berkshire, Railroad Street Youth Project’s Youth Mentoring Program, and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires.

In addition to the funds awarded through its grant application process, the foundation provides ongoing support for the Jewish Transportation Network, Jewish camp scholarships and the PJ Library in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

–E.E.

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Salisbury Bank to offer seminar on how to sign up for healthcare

Salisbury, Conn. — On Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Noble Horizons, Salisbury Bank will offer a seminar on signing up for healthcare and how to pay for it led by Janet Carlson of Health Pathfinder and Salisbury Bank’s Darilyn Woods. The seminar will cover the topics of current financial plans, documents needed to be truly prepared, assessing healthcare needs and plans, and available healthcare options.

Carlson is the executive director of Health Pathfinder (formerly PharmaCares), a nonprofit company that specializes in access to health insurance, medicines and healthcare advocacy. She is also the CEO of the One Eleven Group, a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency focusing primarily on healthcare. Woods is a vice president and trust officer with Salisbury Trust Wealth Advisory Services, working with family trusts, individuals and nonprofit organizations. She has nearly 30 years’ experience in the banking industry with a focus on seniors and their financial well being.

Reservations are suggested but not required. To reserve a place, contact Kevin Norton at (860) 453-3497 or knorton@salisburybank.com and type “Healthcare” in the subject line.

–E.E.

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‘Time Abundance for Driven Women’ workshop at ExtraSpecialTeas

Karlee Fain. Photo courtesy Karlee Fain

Great Barrington — ExtraSpecialTeas will host the workshop “Time Abundance for Driven Women,” led by board-certified holistic health practitioner and celebrity life coach Karlee Fain, Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 p.m. Formatted as a cozy teahouse chat, participants will clear “busy work” off their plates to gain time for self-care. Participants will leave with a copy of the two-minute tool Fain and her clients use to stay clear, calm and confident as they rise as leaders in the new economy. The cost of the workshop is a $25 tax-deductible donation to ExtraSpecialTeas. Homemade nourishing food and tea will be provided. For more information or to register, contact Cherri Sanes at (413) 429-6500 or info@extraspecialteas.org.

–E.E.