New management for Williams Inn
Williamstown — Williams College has announced the selection of the Portland, Maine-based Olympia Companies real estate and hospitality company to help design and then manage the new Williams Inn. The company will begin managing the existing Williams Inn beginning Saturday, July 1.
Olympia officials said they look forward to welcoming staff members of the current inn as they work together toward a seamless transition. Employees who choose to transition to the new management company will experience no staffing changes through at least the first six months of Olympia’s management.
Olympia will contribute to the planning underway for the building of a new Williams Inn at the base of Spring Street in Williamstown, the design work for which is being led by the firm Cambridge Seven Associates. Olympia currently manages the Inn at Swarthmore at Swarthmore College, the Hotel at Oberlin at Oberlin College, the Brunswick Hotel & Tavern at Bowdoin College, and the Alfond Inn at Rollins College.
The college purchased the inn from longtime local innkeepers Carl and Marilyn Faulkner in 2014. At that time, Main Street Hospitality Group was brought in to manage the inn.
–E.E.
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Fairfield Inn & Suites and Hilton Garden Inn transition general managers
Berkshire County — Emerald Hospitality Associates and the Mahida family have announced a collaboration between their two Berkshire hotels by transitioning the hotels’ general managers. Robert Cohen has managed the Hilton Garden Inn in Pittsfield since its opening in August 2015 and Patty
Jordan has managed Great Barrington’s Fairfield Inn & Suites for over two years. “Based on the outstanding leadership success at their respective hotels, we are excited to announce the move for Patty to the Hilton Garden Inn and Robert to the Fairfield Inn & Suites,” said Jeanne Carpentier, regional director of sales of Emerald Hospitality Associates. Vijay Mahida, the owner of both hotels, is also thrilled with the arrangement: “Our family has enjoyed working with Patty and Robert and are excited to offer them this wonderful opportunity,” he said. The change will occur in the coming weeks.
–E.E.
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Salisbury Trust partners with Lebenthal
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Trust Wealth Advisory Services, the trust division of Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, has announced that it has added Lebenthal Asset Management to its line-up of investment partners. Lebenthal, a $1.4 billion New York City-based investment management firm, is recognized for its experience in global and U.S. equity as well as municipal bond portfolio management. Lebenthal will focus on globally diversified equity, equity income and municipal bond portfolios for the clients of Salisbury Trust, a complement to Salisbury’s existing capabilities. In addition to managing those strategies, the teams at Lebenthal have experience in building portfolios for clients with unique or specialized needs.
–E.E.
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New report on nonprofit donations
Great Barrington — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, a member of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN), has shared the most recent MNN Commonwealth Insights report on individual donations.
The report highlights why individual donations are so important to nonprofits and the impact that changes in federal tax policy could have on all nonprofits. The report also touches on federal tax policy and the proposals advanced during the 2016 election cycle, which, if enacted during tax policy debates in 2017, would severely reduce the impact of the current federal deduction for charitable giving.
The report was made possible by support from the Barr Foundation and derives information from the Giving Common, an online resource that provides in-depth information about nonprofits across Massachusetts courtesy of the Boston Foundation.
–E.E.
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2017 BTCF grant deadlines
Sheffield — The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) has announced the first round of competitive grant deadlines for 2017. Regional nonprofits, students and schools are invited to apply for funding during the winter grants cycle that runs from January through March.
For nonprofits:
The Crane Family Fund supports environmental organizations with innovative projects. Grants range from $1,000–$2,000. Applications are due Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program is an intensive six-day program for nonprofit CEOs, presidents and executive directors who are responsible for shaping the policies and major programs of their organizations. Applications are due Wednesday, March 1, for this July program.
The Green Pastures Fund supports nonprofit organizations or public entities that encourage or preserve small, community-based agricultural ventures. Grants range from $1,000–$3,000. Applications are due Wednesday, March 1.
The James and Robert Hardman Fund for North Adams aids nonprofit groups, community organizations and public agencies that support the residents of North Adams and its neighboring communities of Florida and Clarksburg, as well as Stamford, Vermont. The fund prioritizes projects that support disadvantaged residents or enrich the cultural and natural environment. Grants range from $500–$3,000. Applications are due Wednesday, March 1.
The Fund for Williamstown supports projects and services that benefit residents of Williamstown. Letters of intent describing projects and their purposes are due Wednesday, March 15. Grants range from $500–$2,500. Full grant applications are due Saturday, April 15.
For students:
The Michelle Gillett Creative Writing Award for Young Women awards $1,000 scholarships to female students of Monument Mountain Regional High School who are seniors during the 2016–17 school year. Applications are due Sunday, Jan. 15.
The Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund/Youth World Awareness Program provides grants to students ages 14–22 for international travel and service. Grants range from $500–$1,500 for individual applicants; larger grants may be considered for groups. Applications are due Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The Simple Gifts Fund awards grants to young people ages 13–21 for participation in cultural or creative summer programs. Grants range from $200–$800. Applications are due Wednesday, March 15.
For schools:
The James C. Kapteyn Endowment Fund recognizes excellence in teaching with a $10,000 prize for study or travel. Nominations from school principals or chief administrators are due Wednesday, Feb. 1. Contact programs@berkshiretaconic.org for more information.
The Lenox Education Enrichment Foundation supports projects that inspire and engage students and teachers in the Lenox public schools. Grants range from $100–$1,000. Applications are due Tuesday, Feb. 28.
For more information, contact BTCF at (413) 229-0370 or info@berkshiretaconic.org.
–E.E.
