700 employees volunteer during ‘Xtraordinary Week’ of community service
SPRINGFIELD, June 18, 2025 — As part of Berkshire’s signature week of community service, 700 Berkshire Bank employees volunteered with 31 nonprofits to help lift up the places they live and work during the bank’s “Xtraordinary Week” (X Week) of giving back from June 9-13.
Employees participated in more than 35 projects to help address issues like hunger and homelessness and aim to enhance the future well-being of those who live in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island.
In the Pioneer Valley, employees volunteered with the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center in Springfield, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee, and White Oak School in Westfield.
“Giving back is a core part of who we are as a company because we believe that lasting impact starts with local action,” said Lori Kiely, Managing Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “Throughout X Week, our employees helped build stronger, more resilient communities — and stronger connections with one another.”
Named for the X in its logo, Berkshire’s award-winning XTEAM Employee Volunteer and Giving Program is a central element of its workplace culture, providing employees with an easy way to put its corporate values into action and help each of its communities realize its full potential.
Berkshire employees also actively volunteer throughout the year. They achieved a remarkable milestone in 2024: 100% volunteered in their communities through more than 250 company-sponsored projects with more than 11,500 hours of service. In addition to the hours contributed through X Week, all Berkshire employees are eligible for up to 16 hours of paid time off annually to volunteer with nonprofits of their choice
Berkshire Bank is a relationship-driven, community-focused bank that delivers industry-leading financial expertise to clients in New England and New York and is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), headquartered in Boston. With $12 billion in assets and 83 financial centers, the Bank provides a full suite of tailored banking solutions through its Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Consumer Lending, Private Banking and Wealth Management divisions. For more than 175 years, Berkshire has delivered strength, stability and trusted advice to empower the financial potential of its clients and communities. Newsweek named Berkshire one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and one of America’s Best Regional Banks. To learn more, visit BerkshireBank.com and follow Berkshire on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Alison Skratt, Corporate Communications
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