Community Celebration
Celebrating volunteers who help improve the quality of life for our neighbors in Berkshire County. United to Volunteer.
April 16, 2025 at WANDER Berkshires
Sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems and Greylock Federal Credit Union
Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism Award recipient
Brenda Lee Petell, Vice President, Community Engagement Officer, MountainOne
Brenda previously served as director of volunteer engagement at Berkshire United Way, where she was integral in launching the online Volunteer Center. She also organized large volunteer events to address food access and basic needs and partnered with Thanksgiving Angels to make the volunteer experience more successful.
She is on the advisory committees for Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), and the board of directors for Berkshire Education and Correction Services. Brenda also regularly volunteers for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and passionately advocates for children and equity.
Brenda was a GE Elfun volunteer (1998-2007) and president of SABIC Volunteers (2007-2014), and a 1Berkshire YLP Steering Committee member (2008-2016). Past community service includes Berkshire Robotics Challenge, Pittsfield Academies Mentor Coordinator, Business Professionals of America volunteer, and coordinator of the high school science fair at the Berkshire Museum for five years.
Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Heart Award recipient
Maria Encalada, Founder of Puerta de Esperanza and community advocate
As a leader in the Pittsfield community, Maria deftly connects immigrants with vital resources. An immigrant herself, she knows that asking for help can be especially hard when people don’t speak the language. That’s why she took on a volunteer role for Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market in Pittsfield. Maria helps Spanish-speaking customers access fresh, local food and makes sure shoppers understand the tiered payment structure, including the free food pantry option.
Maria always shows up to volunteer at Berkshire United Way’s meal packing events and helped with the MLK Day clothing drive.
Maria is the founder of the nonprofit Puerta de Esperanza, an organization dedicated to creating a brighter future for those within the Berkshire Latino community. As a community advocate and dedicated volunteer, she uses her connections and lived experience to help others thrive in Pittsfield and Berkshire County.
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LIVE UNITED Community Celebration
May 16, 2023, Berkshire Hills Country Club
Sponsored by Berkshire Medical Center
Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism Award recipients
Vannessa Guess Slaughter and Manny Slaughter
Founders of the Focus is Our Children
Since 1965, Berkshire United Way has annually recognized volunteers whose personal commitment and dedication to volunteerism is truly exemplary. This “Volunteer of the Year” award was named in 1981 in memory of Robert K. Agar Jr., a member of the Berkshire United Way Board of Directors.
For decades, Manny and Vanessa Slaughter have embodied an exemplary spirit of volunteerism and a commitment to mentorship and support for young people in the community. The Slaughters have run outreach programs and engaged volunteers to offer dance, sports and literacy, cultural enrichment, and mentoring opportunities for children and families. Their latest endeavor, the nonprofit Focus is Our Children, is a free afterschool homework and mentoring program for students ages 6-16.
Remarks by Manny and Vannessa (video)
Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Heart Award recipient
Alex Reczkowski
Director of the Berkshire Athenaeum
Berkshire United Way presents the Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Heart Award to an individual or group of individuals who show up time and time again for those in need in our community. The award is named in honor of Dan Dillon, who led Berkshire United Way for 12 years, and was instrumental in defining United Way’s essential role as a community builder and facilitator.
Dan’s spirit and commitment lives and thrives in the work and example of Alex Reczkowski, who is dedicated to ensuring the Berkshire Athenaeum is recognized as a welcoming and engaging resource for all community residents. That same spirit of service animates Alex’s volunteer service with local cultural organizations, the Rotary Club of Pittsfield, and in the time he contributes to Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparer. Alex has helped hundreds of working people access thousands of dollars in tax credits – money that goes right back into their pockets and back into the community, making the community economically stronger and most prosperous.
Remarks by Alex (video)
View images from the event | photos by Tucker Bair
LIVE UNITED Community Celebration
May 18, 2022, at Berkshire Money Management
Sponsored by BMM and Greylock Federal Credit Union
Guest speaker Carolyn Valli from Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.
Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism Award recipient
Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts
Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Heart Award recipient
Shirley Edgerton
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