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Lee Bank Foundation Allocates $50,070 in First Grant Cycle of 2024

Supporting Berkshire-Based Nonprofits’ Community Initiatives

Lee, Mass. (April 17, 2024) -- The Lee Bank Foundation has allocated $50,070 to eleven Berkshire-area organizations during its initial funding round of 2024, reinforcing its commitment to community development. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, will bolster local programming aimed at addressing critical community needs.

The recipients of the Lee Bank Foundation grants are as follows:

• Berkshire Botanical Gardens
• Berkshire County Historical Society
• Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative
• Berkshire Nursing Families
• Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association
• Latinas 413
• Literacy Network of South Berkshire
• Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
• Railroad Street Youth Project
• ROOTS Teen Center
• Sonrisas

Organizations interested in applying for the next round of Foundation funding, with a deadline of June 1st, can access the application and further details via the Community Impact section of Lee Bank's website.

To qualify for grant consideration, applicants must hold a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The Foundation prioritizes programs that aim to narrow income and opportunity disparities within the region. Funding requests should align with one or more of the Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas:

• Education and literacy
• Food security and nutrition
• Economic growth and development
• Health and human services
• Mentorship, internship, and "school-to-work" initiatives

Organizations are eligible for grant funding once within a 12-month period.

Established in 2021 to uphold Lee Bank’s longstanding commitment to community reinvestment, the Lee Bank Foundation has distributed 140 grants totaling $702,900 since its inception.