MCLA Blog

Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative reaches $1 million milestone: Berkshire Health Systems announces $100,000 gift

Pittsfield, Massachusetts (November 30, 2006) — The Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative announced today it has received a $100,000 gift from Berkshire Health Systems which, when combined with previous generous community support, has pushed BWLI to a major milestone – the $1 million mark in private sector donations. This accomplishment, together with funding from the state and each participating school district, will allow the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative to distribute wireless laptops to more than 2,300 middle school students and teachers.

The primary goals of the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative are to help improve student achievement and transform the way education is delivered in the North Adams and Pittsfield middle schools. In the summer of 2005, 175 sixth, seventh- and eighth-grade teachers received laptops. Each of the schools has installed a wireless infrastructure to support the use of the laptops. In January 2006, during the first phase of the Initiative, more than 700 seventh-grade students at Silvio O. Conte Middle School in North Adams, and Herberg and Reid Middle Schools and St. Mark School in Pittsfield received Apple iBook G4 wireless laptops. Before the end of December, students in all three grades will have laptops.

Overall, this three-year program is supported by a combination of state, private, and school funding. State support for the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative has been provided through the John Adams Innovation Institute, the economic development division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Berkshire Connect, Inc. is providing project management for the Initiative. Other project partners include the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
The pledge that brought the fundraising total to $1 million was a $100,000 donation to BWLI from Berkshire Health Systems (BHS). Berkshire Health Systems is the primary provider of healthcare services to residents of and visitors to Berkshire County and the surrounding area. Through Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association, Berkshire Health Systems provides a wide range of state-of-the-art healthcare services.
Berkshire Health Systems is the largest employer in Berkshire County, with nearly 3,300 employees working for Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Faculty Services and the management company at BHS. In addition, Berkshire Health Care Systems (BHCS), BHS’s associate long-term care provider, employs nearly 1,200 people at its Berkshire County facilities, which include: Fairview Commons, Hillcrest Commons, Williamstown Commons, North Adams Commons, Mt. Greylock Extended Care, Kimball Farms of Lenox and Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center.
Other recent pledges that contributed toward this milestone were made by National Grid, Ruth Proud Charitable Trust, Adams Cooperative Bank, and Meehan and Company.
The private sector fundraising was kicked off at a Leadership Forum held at Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America in January 2005. At that time, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Life and Petricca Industries announced donations that together totaled $430,000. Other major donors to Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative are Mountain One Financial Systems/Hoosac Bank, Legacy Banks, General Systems, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Pittsfield Co-operative Bank, and Country Curtains.
“The business community has stepped up and been very generous in supporting the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative,” said Michal Daly, President and CEO of Berkshire Bank and co-chair of BWLI’s fundraising committee. “To me, that is an indication that local employers want Berkshire County to have a first class education system that provides young people with the skills they need to continue their education and make a valuable contribution to the workforce.”
The announcement about reaching the $1 million milestone was made at a ceremony hosted by Berkshire Health Systems. Speakers included State Rep. Daniel Bosley; Mayor John Barrett III of North Adams; Mayor James Ruberto of Pittsfield; David Phelps, CEO of Berkshire Health Systems; Perri Petricca, President of Petricca Industries; and Donald Dubendorf, BWLI Chairman.