Kristine and Larry Hazzard receive major philanthropy award
Berkshire United Way welcomed more than 100 individual donors, supporters, and sustainers to our Greylock Society Reception on August 5 at the Country Club of Pittsfield.
The event was our opportunity to thank those who exemplify leadership giving through their annual donation of $1,000 or more to support BUW and our work in the community. It also was our chance to recognize former BUW President and CEO Kristine Hazzard and husband Larry Hazzard with our Ruth P. and Nicholas Boraski Leaders in Philanthropy Award.
“Kris and Larry have left an indelible, positive mark on our community and especially on Berkshire United Way,” said award presenter Rich Rowe, former BUW chair during Kris's tenure.
Kris joined BUW as Vice President of Community Impact in 2007 and was named President and CEO less than a year later. Over the next 12 years, she transformed BUW into a community impact model noted for its broad engagement, diverse partnerships, identification of priority issues, and investment in evidence-based programs and strategies to create sustained community change. She successfully secured over $22 million in support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government funders to address key community issues such as teen pregnancy and early literacy.
Larry served in a senior position at Berkshire Life Insurance Company for 12 years before being named President of Berkshire Life and Vice President of Disability Products at Guardian Life, after the two companies combined. He helped build and oversee a robust employee giving campaign for BUW.
During the reception, Kris shared that award namesake Nick Boraski was a regular presence at BUW, offering lot of advice and opinions, “but he was always right.” Larry remarked that “Our work is far from over and the current challenges seem bigger than ever.”
As BUW Interim President and CEO Katherine von Haefen stated about the Hazzards, their “leadership has blazed a powerful trail of positive change and accomplishment.”
Katherine shared with a room full of our supporters that as we enter into more challenging times, BUW’s work becomes even more necessary and important. She reminded them that by donating to BUW, they are not just helping us directly invest in high-quality nonprofits that are meeting needs in each of our priority areas, but also supporting our role in the community as a leader, thought partner, convener, and collaborator.
To learn how you can support Berkshire United Way, visit berkshireunitedway.org/give-back.
View our image gallery from the reception | photos by Marc J. Wrzesinski
