2025 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards Honorees Chosen

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, has announced the names of 7 honorees receiving recognition at the 8th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on May 20. 
 
The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards recognize the accomplishments and dedication of the people who work in the nonprofit sector.
 
A panel of 22 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors deliberated via Zoom to choose honorees in each of 7 categories from among 50 nominations. The honorees are:
 
Board Leadership: 
Cynthia Farr Brown/Berkshire County Historical Society
 
Executive Leadership: 
Melissa Canavan/Berkshire Immigrant Center
 
Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership: 
Rachael Bentz/AIRY (Arts in Recovery for Youth)
 
Rock Star:
Lauren Smith/Fairview Hospital
 
Unsung Hero:
Chris Ciepiela/Berkshire Horseworks
 
Volunteer:
Pamela Conroy Breslin/Literacy Network
 
Lifetime Achievement:
Jane Winn/Berkshire Environmental Action Team
 
"There were many excellent nominees this year, however, the judges found consensus very easily based on the impact these honorees have had both on their organizations and in our community," said Nonprofit Center founder Liana Toscanini. 
 
The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards is made possible by sponsors: Acrisure/Toole Insurance, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Blackrock Foundation, Brown & Brown Insurance, Doctor Sax House/Dulu Café, Feigenbaum Foundation, Fitzpatrick Trust, Greylock Federal Credit Union, NBT Bank, Tricia McCormack Photography, Warrior Trading, and Williamstown Community Chest. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire Special Olympics Returns to Monument Mountain

iBerkshires.com Sports
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. – Hundreds of athletes of all ages converged at Monument Mountain Regional High School Wednesday for the 45th annual Berkshire County Special Olympics meet.
 
Runners, jumpers and throwers from throughout the county put themselves to the test and were recognized for their accomplishments.
 
As always, one of the highlights of the day was the banner parade, when Special Olympians from various teams make their way around the track to be honored by the fans in attendance.
 
This year, the newly-created Lee High School/Monument Mountain Unified Sports team had the honor of leading the athletes behind a contingent of local law enforcement officers.
 
Unified Sports, an initiative of Special Olympics and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, allows students with intellectual disabilities to compete in basketball in the winter and track in the summer alongside peers without disabilities while representing their schools.
 
Coaches varsity student-athletes from around South County participated in Wednesday’s event, helping to coordinate competition on two sides of the track and throughout the infield.
 
This year’s meet was dedicated to the memory of longtime Special Olympian Michele Adler, who competed for the Berkshire County-based Red Raiders team for more than 20 years and represented Massachusetts as a bowler at the 2010 USA Games.
 
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