
Dale Stewart reports from Sheffield, MA.On Friday, December 14, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation celebrated two milestones in one event: the Foundation itself turned 25 years-old, and it reached $100 million in grants in support of nonprofits and individuals in our region. To commemorate the accomplishments, the Foundation hosted an all-day open house and evening wine and cheese reception, transforming their eco-friendly office space into a festive gathering hall for a meet and greet with fund recipients, BTCF staff and board members and community residents. Foundation president Jennifer Dowley, pictured above with Chair Christopher Kennan, and Vice Chair, Bill Dunlaevy, toasted the night and announced the BTCF’s newest initiative: a focus on early childhood development, saying, “We've all had our ups and downs, our struggles and our determinations, but our work is about hope for the future and all of our staff feels lucky to have this work."


Jonathan Hankin with BTCF's Vice President of Finance and Administration Jill Gellert; Wendy Curtis and Betsy Gill.


Sally Harris with Executive Director of Berkshire Grown Barbara Zheutlin, and Ariel Bock; Pat and Hank Binzer with Hudson City Treasurer, Eileen Halloran.


Mat Kiefer, Jody Bronson, Paul Barton, and Director of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association, Willie Hallihan; Laurie Norton Moffatt and Ann Jon.


Jonathan Hankin, Fred Harris, and Rosina Rand; Hudson Opera House Executive Director Gary Schiro and BTCF Marketing Director, Kimberly Rock.


BTCF's Emily Bronson and Dave Bissaillon; Ann Barrett and Susan Lombard.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo