Pittsfield-based Berkshire Bank’s two charitable foundations awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont during 2013.

The grants supported education and community development initiatives, as well as health and human service and arts and culture programs.

"We are so pleased to once again give back in a significant way to the organizations doing important work in the communities that we serve," Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation, said in a statement. "The growth of the bank has allowed us to provide an increase in critical financial assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations."