Berkshire Bank and its charitable arm, Berkshire Bank Foundation, recently contributed $93,983 to Berkshire United Way for its 2011 workplace campaign.

The money raised includes a corporate gift of $35,000, employee contributions of $55,687 and employee fundraisers that generated $3,296. The fundraisers included a gift basket raffle and jeans days for which employees donated $5 per week to wear jeans on Fridays.

"Berkshire Bank continues to be a strong supporter of Berkshire United Way and its community impact model which addresses the most pressing community conditions. We agree with its focus on early education, employment and prevention initiatives as these are issues that impact the quality of life in our communities," said Peter J. Lafayette, executive director of Berkshire Bank Foundation.

"The support of Berkshire Bank and its employees is critical to the work we are doing to mobilize resources to address community priorities and create sustainable change. We are deeply appreciative of all the bank does to help us provide opportunities for over 23,000 people to access services and receive support in our community through Berkshire United Way funded programs," said Kristine Hazzard, president and CEO of Berkshire United Way.

In addition to annual monetary giving, the foundation sponsors a scholarship program for high school seniors and oversees the bank’s Employee Volunteer Program that carries out group community service projects benefiting schools, nonprofit organizations and communities within the bank’s service area. In 2010, Berkshire Bank employees completed 56 volunteer projects in which more than 50 percent of Berkshire’s 635 employees participated to help their local communities.