Lee Bank Foundation distributes $83,750 in first 2022 funding round
LEE — Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $83,750 to 12 Berkshire organizations and an additional grant to Pittsfield Public Schools in its first round of 2022 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000–$16,000 to support their local programming. Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and culture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audiences.
The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:
- Berkshire Center for Justice
- Berkshire Community Diaper Project
- Berkshire Concert Choir
- Berkshire County Arc
- Berkshire Historical Society
- Berkshire Family YMCA
- Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
- Community Access to the Arts
- Great Barrington Public Theater
- Greenagers
- Roots Rising
- The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Arts Access Grants of $1,000 each were awarded to Berkshire Concert Choir, Berkshire Historical Society, and Great Barrington Public Theater. Additionally, Lee Bank Foundation announced a $16,000 grant to the Pittsfield Public Schools — $1,000 for each school serving children and adults in Pittsfield, to coincide with the groundbreaking of the new Lee Bank branch on South Street.
The deadline for the next round of 2022 Foundation funding is June 1. The application and more information can be found on the Lee Bank website.
To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of the Foundation’s primary focus areas:
- Education and literacy
- Food security and nutrition
- Economic growth and development
- Health and human services
- Mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives
- Arts and culture
Applicants are only eligible for funding once in a 12-month period.
—A.K.
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CDCSB welcomes interim executive director, two board members
GREAT BARRINGTON — Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire (CDCSB) has welcomed an Interim Executive Director and two new members to its Board of Directors.
Carol Bosco Baumann joined CDCSB as its Interim Executive Director following the retirement of previous Executive Director Allison Marchese. Baumann comes to CDCSB with over two decades of high-level strategic marketing, branding, and communications experience. She was first introduced to community development work while living in Boston, creating a summer camp in partnership with the MFA, Gardner Museum, BSO, Harvard Medical School, and others for children in under-resourced Boston neighborhoods. She has volunteered for many initiatives and organizations in the Berkshire community, including Housatonic village and school redevelopment efforts, and as Chair of the Chesterwood Advisory Council.
Spring Burke and Brian Horan were each elected to serve a three-year term to the CDCSB Board.
Spring Burke works as a Vice President, Mortgage Advisor for Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and has worked in the banking industry for more than half of her life. For the past six years, she has sat on the Board of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and for several years served in the role of Treasurer.
Brian Horan is a respected litigator and counselor whose experience spans areas including real estate, health care, telecommunications, construction, finance, insurance, and intellectual property. “As someone who spent over a decade advising New York City agencies and litigating on critical issues including expanding affordable housing and economic opportunity,” he said, “I’m thrilled to join the CDCSB board. Having relocated to the Berkshires in 2020, I look forward to bringing my deep experience to bear in service of this same critical work in my new community.”
In introducing these two new board members, CDCSB Board of Trustees President Jim Harwood said, “We are pleased to welcome Spring and Brian to the Board of Trustees. Spring brings a wealth of local banking industry experience to the CDC as we continue to grow and find new ways to develop affordable housing and foster economic development. Brian lends his considerable experience in law, social justice programs, and equity initiatives.”
The Board of Directors also includes Jim Harwood, President; Richard Stanley, Acting Vice President; Cara Becker, Treasurer; Don Eaton, Clerk; Anthony Blair; Erik Bruun; Thomas Doyle; Allen Harris; Robin Helfand; Mike Igoe; Rufus Jones; and David Thorne.
—A.K.
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Community Health Programs names Director of Behavioral Health
GREAT BARRINGTON — Sherri-Lee Ryanmann has been named Community Health Programs’ Director of Behavioral Health.
A licensed independent clinical social worker, Ryanmann earned her master’s degree in social work from the State University of New York Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. She completed undergraduate studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams.
Ryanmann worked previously in several roles with Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Medical Center, collaborating with primary care providers in clinical assessment and treatment of patients’ behavioral health needs. She has also worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, providing consultation to medical teams, as well as treatment and crisis intervention to patients and families with complex psychosocial, mental health and substance use problems. She is experienced in individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
Ryanmann has completed trainings in suicide prevention, domestic violence, trauma treatment, mindfulness, and substance use, as well as multiple therapeutic modalities. At Berkshire Medical Center, she was a member of the its Ethics Committee and its Diversity Committee. In 1999, the Massachusetts Executive of Human Services recognized Ryanmann with the Department of Developmental Services 15th Annual Human Rights Award.
—A.K.
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BCC, McCann Technical School sign articulation agreements
PITTSFIELD — Representatives from Berkshire Community College (BCC) and McCann Technical School held a ceremony at the school on Monday, May 9, to celebrate the signing of two articulation agreements between the schools. Articulation agreements specify course transfer options between educational partner institutions.
The first agreement pertains to students in Dental Assisting and Medical Assisting programs, while the second addresses students enrolled in the Surgical Technology program. Students already enrolled in McCann’s programs may begin taking BCC courses concurrent with their coursework and then continue as full- or part-time students to complete required courses for the associate degree. Other students may wish to pursue some or all of the associate degree requirements at BCC before applying to McCann.
Dental Assisting (Associate in Science): Under the supervision of a dentist, the dental assistant prepares all instruments, materials and equipment used in dental procedures, takes dental X-rays, assists the dentist in all procedures, provides oral care instruction to patients and performs office administration tasks. In existence since 1962, the McCann Dental Assisting program has been fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation since 1972. Graduates are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification examination. Those who pass this examination may use the designation of Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
Medical Assisting (Associate in Science): Medical assistants work in a physician’s office or health care facility, where they perform both administrative and clinical medical office tasks. The McCann Medical Assisting program, established in 1962, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Those who pass the examination may use the designation of Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA).
Surgical Technology (Associate in Science): Surgical technologists work in a sterile environment with surgeons, anesthesia personnel and nurses in delivering surgical patient care. Established in 1963, the McCann Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education and Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. McCann graduates are eligible to sit for the national board exam given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
—A.K.
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1Berkshire launches façade improvement micro-grant program
PITTSFIELD — 1Berkshire recently announced the launch of “Best Foot Forward,” a pilot micro-grant program to support downtown business facade improvements throughout the region going into the summer season of 2022. Funded through a one-time grant received by 1Berkshire, at least 30 micro-grants ranging from $500–$1,000 will be made available to small for-profit and non-profit businesses and organizations located in downtown business districts across the Berkshires.
Funding is focused on providing these businesses and organizations small injections of capital that will help them execute non-construction facade improvements, such as awning repairs, updated signage, trim painting, window washing, power washing of entryways, hanging plants, outdoor seating, and window lighting. Collaborative applications are strongly encouraged in cases where multiple businesses can leverage the joint contracting of a single service provider together, such as for window cleaning or power washing services. Through these improvements, small businesses be able to put their best foot forward during the busy visitor season, and the overall aesthetics of downtown areas will be improved.
Applications for micro-grants are open now, and will be reviewed by a committee on a first-come, first-served basis. Grants will be awarded until the $30,000 has been exhausted, and no more than $5,000 will be awarded within any single municipality.
—A.K.
