Will Hutnick of Wassaic, N.Y., received a Martha Boschen Porter Fund grant last year to create large works of art on canvas and paper, as well as sculptures. He said this new body of work, which has been exhibited locally and at venues in Chicago and Brooklyn, would not have been possible without the support of the grant. Regional artists in all media may apply for the Martha Boschen Porter Fund by July 15. Photo: John Dolan
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Program, Philanthropy & Leadership Highlights
DeMayo Award:
The Fund for Williamstown held its annual gathering in May to celebrate the generous donors and nonprofits who are working to make Williamstown a more vibrant place to live. The fund honored Robert Behr as this year's recipient of the DeMayo Bright Futures Innovation Award. Robert provides free books to children at area food pantries, shelters and preschools while emphasizing the benefits of reading aloud as a family.
Public Service: William Robinson of Adams, Mass., is the recipient of the Margery and William Barrett Public Service Award for his strong commitment and significant contributions to his community. The award commemorates the generosity of Margery Barrett, who established a fund to benefit the communities of Adams, Cheshire and Savoy. William currently serves on the board of the Northern Berkshire United Way and Child Care of the Berkshires, and he has coached boys and girls basketball for more than 25 years. As part of the award, William designated $1,000 to be granted to Child Care of the Berkshires.
DEEP Bricks: The first round of personalized bricks have been installed in the Dover High School walkway to raise funds for the Dover Education Enrichment Program. The engravings act as a tribute to graduates, teachers, families and organizations who support the fund's mission of enhancing the educational experience of the students and teachers in the Dover Union Free School District.
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Board, Staff and Committee News
New Board Members: Three new members were elected to our board this month. Nancy Needham Hathaway of Millbrook, N.Y., was the head of school at Dutchess Day School for seven years before retiring in 2017. Suzette Brooks Masters of New Lebanon, N.Y., and New York City, is an expert on immigrant and refugee integration policy. Jodi Rathbun-Briggs of Great Barrington, Mass., is the senior vice president and chief lending officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union.
We welcome their expertise and leadership.
Outgoing Board Members:
After completing three three-year teams each, Gloria Callen, Holly Nelson, David Rich and Vera "Tinny" Weintraub have stepped down from our board. We thank them for their many years of service to BTCF and their inspirational work in our communities.
New Staff Member: Amy Taylor joined our team this month as our new community engagement officer for education. She will advance our strategic priority in educational attainment, lead our scholarship and education enrichment programs and provide donors with education-related resources. Email Amy or call her at 413.429.8407.
We're Hiring: We are seeking a senior-level staff member who will provide strategic vision, staff leadership and operational oversight for all asset development and donor engagement activities. Learn more
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Grants in the News
Musical Education: Berkshire Music School recently organized entertaining and educational performances of "Tubby the Tuba" at four Berkshire County elementary schools with support from the Central Berkshire Fund, the Lee Fund for Educational Enrichment and the Seven Towns' Education Partnership Fund. Watch a video of a performance at the Berkshire Edge.
Cooperative Sculpture:
Students in Columbia County's Ichabod Crane Central School District used geometry, math, creativity and cooperation to build a sculpture installation of ceramic columns in the high school's courtyard. The project is supported by a grant from the district's Arts and Humanities Fund. View a photo in the Register-Star.
Food Access: As reported in the Times Union, a listening session was held at New Lebanon Town Hall earlier this month to seek input from residents on ways to expand affordable food access in the area. The effort is part of our Fresh and Healthy Food for All initiative, which aims to make nutritious food available to communities in need in Columbia County. The initiative is also launching a Mobile Market in Hudson that will give shoppers convenient access to wholesome, locally sourced food at a fair price through a tiered pricing system. It is expected to hit the road in August.
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Save The Date: Berkshire Taconic, in partnership with the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and the Foundation for Community Health, will host the inaugural Board Leadership Forum on Oct. 13 at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Mass. The daylong conference will give area board members and executive directors the opportunity to learn from industry experts, connect with their peers and gain inspiration for their important work. More details will be released in the near future.
Grantee Exhibit:
Paintings by Great Barrington artist Yura Adams are currently on display at the John Davis Gallery in Hudson, N.Y., through July 15. The exhibit showcases her "LightSwitch" series, which interprets the observation of light events guided by her readings of the physics of light. The works were completed with support from a Martha Boschen Porter Fund grant.
Clambake Fundraiser:
The Jane Lloyd Fund's 13th annual clambake will be held at the Salisbury Winter Sports Association's Satre Hill in Salisbury, Conn., on Saturday, July 28. Lobsters and clams will be served at 4 p.m. The traditional summer event benefits the Jane Lloyd Fund, which supports the basic needs of cancer patients and their families in northwest Connecticut. Clambake tickets must be purchased in advance online or by calling committee members Tanya Tedder at 860.435.9661 or Donna Lloyd Stoetzner at 860.824.5493.
Art for QUEST: "The Hunt," paintings by Murray Zimiles, will be on display at the Millbrook School through Aug. 1. The artist plans to donate one third of the proceeds from sales to the Webutuck Quest for Excellence Fund, which supports projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Webutuck Central School District.
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