Berkshire Country Day School recently invited Berkshire United Way President and CEO Katherine von Haefen to speak with 30 middle school students as part of a speaker series designed to introduce them to a wide range of careers and life paths. Katherine not only shared her professional journey, but offered students a deeper understanding of the important role nonprofits like BUW play in strengthening the Berkshires.
Katherine spoke about the experiences that led her to a career in community impact work and why she deeply believes in the United Way model of bringing our community together to address challenges. She highlighted the organization’s commitment to improving early childhood development, supporting working families, and helping young people thrive – emphasizing how collaboration and compassion are essential to building a stronger, more equitable region.
“I’m grateful to Berkshire Country Day School for inviting me to speak,” said Katherine. “Sharing my career journey and how Berkshire United Way works to help the Berkshires thrive with these young people was inspiring, and their curiosity and thoughtfulness reminded me why investing in our community’s future matters so much.”
To help students connect more personally with the realities many Berkshire residents face, Katherine also led them through a hands-on budget simulation. Working in small groups, students were challenged to make difficult financial decisions for a married couple with two children; both work – one full time, the other two part-time jobs - both making minimum wage. The exercise illustrated how quickly a family can face hardship and why organizations like Berkshire United Way are vital in offering stability, resources, and opportunities to thrive.
The conversation sparked thoughtful questions and meaningful discussions. “Our students are still talking about the budgeting exercise,” said Mary Warner, head of school. “We are so grateful to Katherine for taking the time to come to BCD and leading this important and valuable conversation.”
