February 27, 2010 — Two western Massachusetts nonprofits recently voted the favorite organizations of customers of Berkshire Bank were awarded $5,000 each from the Berkshire Bank Foundation.

Named winners in the contest, held in connection with the launch of the bank’s new website, were:

• Rick’s Place, a Wilbraham nonprofit that provides bereavement support to families with young children who have experienced the death of a close family member. It was started in 2001 after the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center.

• Berkshire Carousel, a Pittsfield organization that aims to create a form of family entertainment and work of art by building an authentic classical wooden carousel in downtown Pittsfield.

Berkshire Bank President and CEO Michael P. Daly said, "We believe the true measure of a community bank is not only to offer competitive products and support the community and local nonprofits, but also allow our customers, friends, and neighbors to have a voice in our charitable decisions.”

Grants were made to a total of four nonprofits in the bank’s marketing region: Berkshire County; the Pioneer Valley, an area spanning 25 communities from Holland to South Hadley to Tolland; southern Vermont; and the capital district in New York. Checks were awarded last Tuesday.

More than 60,000 votes were cast in the contest. Rick’s Place topped the vote among 11 nonprofits, while Berkshire Carousel won in a field of 14 nonprofits. Voting results are available by clicking here.

The Berkshire Bank Foundation, funded with a donation from Berkshire Bank, is a local leader in philanthropy and community involvement. The foundation has awarded more than $13 million in donations to non-profit organizations since its inception and plans to award more than $1 million in 2010.