Campaign Center

Since our founding in 1993, Kids’ Place has been deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Berkshire United Way. For more than 30 years, this partnership has been a cornerstone of our work, helping us provide hope, healing, and justice to children and families affected by abuse across Berkshire County.

Over the years, thousands of children have received free, trauma-informed services at some of the most challenging times in their lives. Berkshire United Way’s flexible funding allows us to meet urgent and evolving needs, whether through therapy, caregiver support, crisis response, or prevention programs. Their trust and partnership have played a vital role in our agency’s growth and impact.

Berkshire United Way’s commitment to equity, mental health, and early childhood well-being reflects our core values. Their initiatives, such as regional resource directories and peer support networks, help families navigate complex systems and feel less alone. Their community volunteer efforts have brought visibility to our mission, inspired new partnerships, and encouraged more people to get involved.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and compassionate community, one where children are safe, families are supported, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

Shared by Heather Williamson, Program Director
Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc.

Berkshire Nursing Families provides compassionate, evidence-based support to families during the perinatal period. Berkshire United Way’s partnership directly supports this mission by offering critical funding, shared leadership, and a platform for collaboration within the early childhood sector.  

BUW funds are crucial to Berkshire Nursing Families’ operational capacity, helping us meet increased community demand while strengthening internal systems and staff infrastructure.  

With BUW’s support, we made more than 1,400 home visits; fielded 10,000+ calls on our hotline; delivered perinatal mental health support groups, many of which are tailored to marginalized families, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ parents; established a robust clinical training and supervision system; hired a BIPOC staff member who facilitates culturally responsive perinatal education for BIPOC, immigrant, and substance-affected families; created a Bringing Home Baby community-informed resource guide, and more. Together, these investments allowed us to serve more families, build long-term capacity, and move closer to a perinatal support system that is both equitable and sustainable.

BUW’s commitment to equity, systems-level change, and collaboration make it an ideal partner. BUW’s partnership has deepened BNF’s ability to serve families holistically, inclusively, and consistently – regardless of where they live, what language they speak, or how they feed their babies.

BUW’s county-wide leadership initiatives have meaningfully strengthened our ability to lead during a time of heightened uncertainty for families and nonprofits alike. In particular, the conversations between nonprofit CEOs create a rare and valuable space for peer connection and shared learning. As an organization navigating complex issues – from inconsistent public health funding to community fears around immigration enforcement – it was deeply grounding to hear how others are adapting, advocating, and supporting their staff and clients.

These kinds of gatherings remind us that we’re not alone in our work and help us think more strategically about resilience and advocacy. They also create informal bridges across sectors, which is increasingly essential as family needs cross systems – health, housing, early education, and mental health. In a climate where families are increasingly navigating fear, isolation, and instability, BUW helps us show up. It enables us to offer consistency and compassion – two things that are increasingly hard to come by.

Shared by Julia Keosaian, Executive Director
Berkshire Nursing Families

Berkshire United Way funding ensures equitable access to Berkshire Theatre Group’s education program, BTG PLAYS! This includes our in-school and after-school classes, youth school touring show, fully produced children’s theater, and in-school summer classes and out-of-school camps.

BUW has encouraged BTG to think critically about BTG PLAYS! programs and programming. We make sure to provide valuable services and genuine experiences that are both artistic and practical. Our program closely aligns with BUW's strategic priority area of School and Career Readiness, but we also add in activities and procedures to ensure mental well-being is improved and personal development is achieved.

BUW’s unrestricted, general operating funds are key to our ability to provide timely and agile services.

BUW introduced us to Berkshire Benchmarks, an online data and analysis tool managed by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, that works with the community to understand priorities and help inform the region on how we are doing and if we are improving. The high-quality data and analysis it provides helps BTG make more informed decisions and track performance over time. It also helps us with grant writing and adjusting our operations – including setting ticket prices and determining the type and number of discounts to offer – to ensure our programming is accessible.  

For example, BTG has expanded its Card to Culture* ticket offering so eligible patrons can receive four $5 tickets to shows at The Colonial Theatre, up from the two $5 tickets we offered in the past. This allows more low-income families in Pittsfield to enjoy our programming.

Shared by Kate Maguire, Artistic Director, CEO 
Berkshire Theatre Group

* The Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program provides EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders with free or steeply discounted admission to a variety of cultural organizations, including museums and arts institutions. The initiative aims to expand cultural access for low-income families across the state. 

New directives from the presidential administration have placed extreme stress on the Head Start community. From funding freezes to proposed program eliminations, there are serious concerns about the long-term sustainability of our services. At the same time, recent events in our community have deeply affected the families we serve. Many are living in fear, which has led to reduced attendance and disengagement from our programming.  

Berkshire United Way’s support has been instrumental in helping Berkshire County Head Start live out our mission to be MORE than just childcare. BUW funds have allowed us to:

• Invest in strategic leadership through the salary of our Early Education Manager, who ensures that our curriculum inspires a love of learning in every child we serve.
• Provide scholarships to conferences and other professional development training for staff and community partners.
• Purchase books for children to take home, helping to build reading habits and learning beyond the classroom.  
• Fund our soccer education program, giving children a fun, engaging physical education opportunity that promotes health and teamwork.

In addition, the early childhood partner meetings that BUW helps lead have become an invaluable resource. Having a group of executive-level peers has created a vital space for consultation, problem-solving, and collaboration. These meetings provide both practical insight and relational support, enabling us to share strategies, anticipate risks, and work collectively toward solutions.  

Thanks to our partnership with Berkshire United Way, we are better positioned to inspire learning, promote equity, and strengthen the fabric of our community.

Shared by Brett Random, Executive Director
Berkshire County Head Start

Berkshire United Way funding supports the Girls Inc. of the Berkshires and Early Childhood Education programs at Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center.

For Girls Inc., BUW funding allowed us to offer free access to our Discovery (character-building) and Eureka! (STEM) programs. They also made it possible to offer our Girls Inc. elective at Herberg Middle School, and to train two new staff in the Massachusetts Planned Parenthood Get Real Curriculum and Sexuality Education Cornerstone Series. We also trained two staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid.  

In our Early Childhood Education program, BUW funding supported classroom curriculum enhancements and child development efforts. Using BUW funding, we purchased items for all classrooms, including new tables, chairs, highchairs, bookshelves, age-appropriate toys, interactive play areas (such as dress-up corners, kitchen areas, and soft reading areas), culturally diverse dolls and books, outdoor play equipment (including gardening tools), indoor gym equipment, and sensory table-top toys. This allowed us to deliver high-quality programming that helps children progress toward developmental milestones and kindergarten readiness.

BUW’s commitment helps us foster safe, nurturing spaces where youth can grow into strong, smart, and bold individuals, and where young children can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Additionally, our participation in BUW’s funded partner chats, Early Childhood Education Working Group and other cross-sector networks grants connects us with other community partners, strengthens our resource network, and ensures we are aligned with community priorities, allowing us to better serve families.  

We also use the BUW Volunteer Portal to recruit volunteers for various projects throughout the year, and our staff frequently volunteer at BUW initiatives, including the meal packing event and Postal Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive. We also table at BUW-sponsored events such as the Berkshire Baby Bonanza and participate in employee giving campaigns to support BUW’s mission in our community.

Through these efforts, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community where every child has the tools and environment they need to succeed.

Shared by Kelly Marion, CEO
Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center

Berkshire South Regional Community Center’s partnership with Berkshire United Way has been instrumental in helping us advance our mission of building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community through education, wellness, and enrichment. The support we receive from BUW enables us to provide accessible, high-quality early childhood and youth programs that are foundational to long-term success for the children and families we serve.

Due to the high cost of providing quality care, staffing qualified educators, maintaining safe and engaging environments, and integrating enriching programming like swim lessons and social-emotional learning, funding from Berkshire United Way is essential. It allows us to keep tuition rates more manageable for working families while allowing us to continue to invest in the high standards that set our programs apart.

BUW’s support directly contributes to the operation of our Sunshine Preschool, out-of-school time, and summer camp programs. These services meet a pressing need for working parents and caregivers, particularly in southern Berkshire County where access to affordable childcare options remains limited. With this support, we served over 227 youth this year.

Beyond financial support, our partnership with BUW reinforces our sense of belonging to a county-wide network of organizations dedicated to improving lives. The shared mission, collective learning opportunities, and community collaborations that stem from this relationship help us stay focused, informed, and inspired. BUW is not just a funder but a trusted partner in creating long-term, generational change.

We deeply value being part of the BUW network and the broader community of organizations working to improve outcomes for children and families. Participation in the coalition of nonprofit leaders that BUW leads has been especially impactful, keeping us connected to county-wide conversations and fostering collaboration on shared challenges. These gatherings help us feel part of a cohesive cohort—like-minded community investors working together toward long-term health and well-being for all residents. This sense of connection strengthens our work and amplifies our impact.  

Shared by Jenise Lucey, Executive Director
Berkshire South Regional Community Center

Berkshire United Way's funding allows Flying Cloud Institute to say “yes” to schools and teachers when unexpected challenges arise that impact STEM and STEAM programs, such as decreased federal funding for outside-of-school-time learning and cancelled grants.

When Berkshire Hills Regional School District cut funding, for example, Flying Cloud offered five free weeks of summer programs. Students worked with five local artists and educators on arts and science projects, including botany, robotics, and stop-motion animation.

BUW’s funding also fully supported three classroom residencies at Conte Community School in Pittsfield, in partnership with their new science specialist, who offered this: “I learned right along with my students. It was moving to see how excited, focused, and engaged students were throughout the week. As a science educator, I gained a deeper understanding of the science content myself and how to incorporate hands-on experiences into my classroom.”

BUW's support and promotion of Flying Cloud's community programs help us reach new educators, families, and youth. Being able to work closely and collaboratively with community partners, schools, and human service organizations is crucial to our ability to meet our mission and BUW has often served as the connection point for these partnerships.

In addition, BUW staff have been wonderful sources of advice and have worked to create a place for nonprofit leaders to gather and create community, strategically positioning our organizations in alignment to meet a larger vision for success for our region. They always have helpful suggestions for partnerships that make it possible for us to do more together than we could accomplish on our own.

We are grateful to be able to talk directly to BUW donors who make this work possible and to help elevate the powerful work BUW does collectively to make this region better.  

Shared by Maria Rundle, Executive Director
Flying Cloud Institute

Berkshire United Way has remained a steady, trusted partner of Elizabeth Freeman Center, especially in times of transition and change. Our partnership with BUW has been vital to EFC’s ability to provide lifesaving, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Berkshire County.  

BUW’s support allows us to sustain critical programs that directly impact our clients, especially our 24/7 emergency shelter, as well as financial literacy programming and community prevention work. These programs often operate at a deficit despite their essential role in survivor safety, healing, and long-term stability. BUW’s investment has strengthened our capacity, amplified our impact, and helped ensure that no survivor is left without support.

Beyond funding, BUW’s leadership in coalition-building, convening, and community advocacy has helped us foster and strengthen partnerships, share resources, align efforts and take collective action to meet the evolving needs of our community. BUW’s commitment to equity and collaboration has inspired and reinforced our own approach, and we are proud to be part of a county-wide network working together to support families and survivors. 

Even as we navigate an increasingly uncertain federal and state funding landscape, the nature of our work is also evolving. Recent shifts in public policy related to DEI and LGBTQ+ rights have introduced new challenges and uncertainties. Nonetheless, we remain committed to equity and continue to provide trans-affirming, survivor-centered services. Additionally, in response to the fear and trauma experienced by many in our local immigrant communities, we have adapted some of our programs to virtual formats and made other thoughtful changes to ensure our services remain accessible, safe, and responsive to the needs of immigrant survivors.

We are deeply grateful for BUW’s partnership, it has been a steady source of strength, strategy, and solidarity in our work.

Shared by Divya Chaturvedi, Executive Director
Elizabeth Freeman Center