Hancock Shaker Village Announces A New Integrity Grant at Its Gala
It was a jam-packed evening, with dinner, a special announcement and a dance performance in a barn.
Joan Hunter, Jim Hunter, Theresa Sholes, trustee Orion Howard of Bright Ideas Brewing, and Pamela Tatge, director of Jacob's Pillow.
Two days after Fourth of July fireworks, Hancock Shaker Village's Summer Gala set off some of its own. On Saturday, July 6 in Pittsfield, Mass., the organization announced the creation of the new Robert Wilmers Integrity Prize. Wilmers, longtime chairman and CEO of M&T Bank, died unexpectedly in 2017. As part of his legacy, this award will grant $25,000 to an individual who demonstrates the leadership and values practiced by its namesake in fields such as architecture, design, agriculture and social impact. The announcement was followed by a moving piece performed by Yo-Yo Ma, who said, “Bob was a role model of what we want to be more like.” A farm-to-table dinner created by Chef Brian Alberg of Main Street Hospitality Group and a live auction followed. Guests then traversed the damp grass and paths to the barn where the Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel dance group presented the thought-provoking piece "They Stood Shaking, While Others Began to Shout.”
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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
