Berkshire Bank this week announced its grants from the bank’s two charitable foundations, totaling nearly $700,000 to nonprofits across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont.

"We are excited to provide financial support to these 194 nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont to date this year. These nonprofits are doing incredible work in our communities to improve the lives of residents and visitors," Peter Lafayette, executive director of Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc., said in a statement

The grants totaled $691,416 between January and June of this year, and that money will help 28 educational, community development, youth, cultural and human service organizations across the bank’s four-state footprint.

Recent recipients included the Pittsfield Family YMCA, Rebuilding Together Springfield, Horizons for Homeless Children in Eastern Massachusetts, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation in Central New York and the Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity in Vermont.

In addition to its two charitable foundations – Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc. and Berkshire Bank Foundation-Legacy Region – the bank also administers an employee volunteer program. Last year, more than half the bank’s employees participated in 95 volunteer programs totaling more than 37,000 hours of service throughout the bank’s service area.