Author and Garden Designer to Speak at Ventfort Hall

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LENOX, Mass. — Author, garden designer, and speaker Jana Milbocker will present her newest book, "Gardens of the Gilded Age" on Tuesday July 14, at 4 pm.
 
A tea will be served after her presentation.
 
In this talk Milbocker explores the estates and landscapes created for families such as the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and du Ponts—alongside the architects and designers who brought their grandeur to life. Discover the stories behind these gardens and the people who shaped them.
 
Milbocker is a garden designer, speaker, and author. She combines horticulture, design, and travel tips to educate new and seasoned gardeners. Milbocker visits gardens and historic sites in the U.S. and abroad, and shares her trips through her books, photos and guided tours. 
 
In addition to "Gardens of the Gilded Age," she is the author of 4 travel guides and organizes group garden tours in the US and overseas. She is also owner of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design firm in the Boston area. (EnchantedGardensDesign.com.) 
 
Tickets are $45. Members receive a discount code for $5 off all ticket prices. Students 22 and under are $22. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/ventforthall/items/722947/?full-items=yes&flow=1597425 or call (413) 637-3206. Note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker St. in Lenox.
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Josh Billings Athletes Can Support Local Non-Profits

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - A new fundraising initiative is giving participants in  one of the Berkshires’ most recognized community traditions a simple way to support local  nonprofits.
 
Launched this year by the Josh Billings RunAground and Mill Town Foundation, the Finish Line Fund allows participating teams to select a Berkshire-based nonprofit and invite friends, family members, colleagues, and others to support the organization through a  team fundraising page.
 
With time still remaining before the Sept. 20 event, participating teams already have raised more than $16,000 for local nonprofits.
 
“The Finish Line Fund is about expanding participation in local philanthropy,” said Andy Wrba, Program Director at Mill Town Foundation. “You don’t need to make a large gift to have an impact. When hundreds of people contribute $10 or $20 to organizations they care about, those individual gifts can add up to something significant. We want to make local  giving accessible, personal, and connected to an event people are already excited to be part of.”
 
Rather than directing all fundraising to a single beneficiary, the Finish Line Fund places the  choice in the hands of participants. Teams select a Berkshire nonprofit that is meaningful to them and use their own networks and personal stories to build support for the organization.  Donations made through each team’s fundraising page go directly to its selected nonprofit.
 
The initiative reflects a peer-to-peer approach to philanthropy in which individuals become  ambassadors for the organizations and causes they value. In addition to raising funds, the  program is designed to introduce more people to Berkshire nonprofits, expand their networks of supporters, and encourage community members to see themselves as active participants in local giving.
 
To encourage broad participation, Mill Town Foundation will also contribute an additional $500 to the nonprofit represented by each of the five teams that attracts the greatest number of individual donors. The incentive is based on the number of unique supporters – not the total amount raised – reinforcing the message that gifts of every size matter.
 
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