GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— Berkshire South's Gala Raised $90,000 and awarded the Annual Edwin A. Jaffe Award to staff who met community needs during the pandemic

 

On Oct. 29 the Southern Berkshire community supported the work of their community center. Berkshire South Regional Community Center's first-ever distanced fundraising gala, Together Apart, raised $90,000 toward Community, Family and Youth Programming. 

 

"As a human services organization, Berkshire South has been called upon to activate our mission in more meaningful ways than ever before," Jenise Lucey, executive director said. "We are beyond grateful for our community, beyond grateful that we are able to continue this meaningful and important work especially now that there are more of those who need our help every day."

 

Each year at the gala, a recipient of the Edwin A. Jaffe Award is named. This award is named for the founder of Berkshire South. The Edwin A. Jaffe Award honors an individual or group that has exhibited an extraordinary commitment to building community and common purpose within the Berkshires. 

 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Patterson presented this year's award "to the dedicated employees" of Berkshire South Regional Community Center.  

 

"This year, our team has been put to the test," Board Chair Ethel Patterson said. "They have given of themselves with every part of their being to make sure that the Center could help support the growing needs of the community. With their own personal lives turned upside-down by the pandemic, this team did everything in their power to continue to bring joy, console those in pain, support one another, and make a difference to everyone they served." 

 

See the gala video essay here.