ABOUT US

Our Mission

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires, in the spirit of Tikkun Olam, is dedicated to addressing critical needs in the Berkshire community and supporting social action to create a more just and equitable society.

Through grant funding and member engagement we pursue our mission to empower and strengthen organizations working to improve the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Why is This Our Mission?
Berkshire County is one of the poorest counties in Massachusetts. Too many of our neighbors experience food insecurity and cannot pay for adequate fuel in winter. Berkshire residents also lag in health outcomes and length of life compared to those in the rest of the Commonwealth.

How Do We Fulfill Our Mission?  
We give back by

• Making grant awards to Berkshire organizations that increase access to food, housing and other essentials; promote self-sufficiency; and empower youth and young adults
• Contributing toward ongoing support for the Jewish community and our neighbors for camp scholarships for Jewish youth and the PJ library.
• Distributing relief funds for emergent needs
• Tutoring at-risk elementary school children through Project Connection

Our History
Under the leadership of Jane Glaser, JWF was started in 2009 by a small group of women moved by the needs in the Berkshire community. Collaborating with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, our founders realized that they could help support some of Federation’s programs and also create new programs beneficial to the Berkshire community at large. As our membership grew, we established a Grants Program to solicit and review grant applications and recommend allocation of funds.

Our Leadership
 

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OUR GRANTS

Established in 2009, JWF, under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, has since granted a total of more than $400,000 to community organizations.

In 2024 our Grants Committee voted to award 21 local organizations grants totaling $100,000 for basic needs, self-sufficiency and youth empowerment. We welcome local organizations to apply for grants.

2025-2026 FUNDED GRANTEES
28 Grants were approved totaling $138,500
 

Addressing Basic Needs
 

Berkshire Bounty provides nutritious food to local food distribution organizations to mitigate food insecurity throughout Berkshire County. The Food Purchase Program increases the amount of nutritious food collected, purchased, and delivered to those in need.  www.berkshire-bounty.org
 

Berkshire Community Diaper Project provides diapers to low and moderate income families. Diapers are a basic necessity for infants. Despite the cost they are not covered by WIC or SNAP programs. The Diaper Distribution Program delivers diapers to its partner agencies for families in need. berkshirecommunitydiaperproject.com
 

Berkshire Grown works to create a thriving Berkshire food economy through outreach, farm support and access to locally grown food. The Share the Bounty program supports local farmers by purchasing CSA shares in the winter and providing fresh, locally grown food to local food pantries. berkshiregrown.org

Berkshire South Regional Community Center aims to build a sense of community, enhance the recreational, educational, cultural, health and social well-being of the residents of the Southern Berkshires. The Free Community Supper Program provides a free, weekly community dinner to help alleviate food insecurity and build community among a diverse group of people. This new program offers training for immigrant community members who will receive training at competitive wages in meal preparation. berkshiresouth.org

Construct is the leading nonprofit provider for affordable housing and supportive services across the southern Berkshires. Transportation Services for Construct Transitional Housing will provide taxi and volunteer mileage for women in transitional housing to commute to work or plan basic errands. constructberkshires.org

The Guthrie Center seeks to cultivate cultural preservation, promote educational achievement and foster community outreach to meet the needs of the community. They offer a free weekly community lunch as well as a free legal clinic. guthriecenter.org

The Pediatric Development Center is an early intervention program serving infants and toddlers who have developmental concerns and offers family support, education and therapeutic services. pediatricdevelopmentcenter.org

The Peoples’ Pantry mission is to respectfully serve Berkshire residents experiencing food insecurity. The Food Distribution Program provides healthy, locally sourced food to our neighbors concerned about meeting basic needs. The Pantry is serving many more young and multi-generational families, as well as recent immigrants. thepeoplespantrygb.org

Roots and Dreams & Mustard Seeds is an immigrant led organization that serves almost 1200 low-income Pittsfield residents. Mercado De Vida is a food pantry co-led by Latina immigrants providing culturally compatible fresh organic food and vegetables to immigrant families, the homeless, single mothers, and members with disabilities. rootsandmustardseeds.com
 

Roots Rising empowers youth and builds community through food and farming. The Pittsfield Farmers Market, a year-round teen-run market increases the buying power of low income residents using WIC, SNAP, and other benefits by providing matching funds and engaging Pittsfield youth in work on farms, in food pantries and at the farmer’s market. rootsrising.org

South Community Food Pantry is an emergency food distribution site that serves the food insecure population of Pittsfield and surrounding towns. Its mission is "to provide for our neighbors in the spirit of generosity, respect, kindness and acceptance so that no one in our community goes to bed hungry."  southcommunityfoodpantry.org

Self Sufficiency
 

18 Degrees’ EMPath program helps under-resourced families work towards self-sufficiency. 18degreesma.org

Berkshire Center for Justice (BCJ) provides direct legal services on a sliding fee scale and free legal services to a diverse client-base of  low-income Berkshire County families. BCJ offers Free Legal Clinics to provide needed support in the areas of health, housing, property, family law and a wide range of community services. berkshirecenterforjustice.org

Berkshire Horseworks transforms lives through the powerful interaction with horses, cultivating tools to cope, heal and thrive in today’s world. berkshirehorseworks.com

Berkshire Immigrant Center advocates for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services and education. The Education Program provides free citizenship examination preparation classes and beginning classes in English to immigrants. berkshireic.org

Blue Rider Stables offers a holistic educational environment in which people and animals can safely interact and, through their mutual therapeutic experiences, broaden the scope of their lives. bluerider.org

Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal aid and is based on the principle that everyone in America is equal under the law. communitylegal.org

Elizabeth Freeman Center is the domestic/dating/sexual violence response agency serving Berkshire County. The Money School (Escuela de Finanzas) Project is a financial independence initiative that addresses the needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. elizabethfreemancenter.org

Literacy Volunteers empowers adults in Berkshire County to realize their goals and become stronger contributors to their community through literacy education. Volunteer tutors provide free, confidential, individual instruction. literacyberkshires.org

Volunteers in Medicine offers free, comprehensive healthcare for Berkshire adults who do not qualify for government supported health insurance. A Path to Citizenship is a pilot program coordinating and supporting immigrant/refugee medical needs while supporting their legal pathways for asylum. vimberkshires.org

Empowerment
 

Berkshire County Head Start provides opportunities and programs to inspire a child’s love of learning, partnering with families, advocating for equity, and fostering a connection to community. The comprehensive approach, takes a holistic approach to childcare development, addressing not only educational needs but also health, nutrition and social services. berkhs.org

Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative creates educational, workforce and production opportunities in the film and media industry as an economic initiative for western Massachusetts. berkshirefilm.org

Berkshire Music School fosters the love and pursuit of music for all ages through quality music education activities, and performance opportunities. berkshiremusicschool.org

Flying Cloud Institute inspires young people and educators through dynamic experiences with science and art the ignites creativity.  It runs classroom residencies and after school programs at 12 public schools and collaborates with organizations to identify and reduce access barriers for underserved and immigrant populations in the community. flyingcloudinstitute.org

Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center/Girls Inc. of the Berkshires supports the Eureka! program that introduces young women to STEM careers through a supportive environment, STEM summer camp at MCLA and mentoring from caring, understanding adults. brighamcenter.org
 

Greenagers engages teens and young adults with meaningful work in environmental conservation and addresses food insecurity. The Food Justice Initiative educates youth in sustainable agriculture and food justice issues. They aim to increase the region’s capacity to grow and provide food by installing vegetable gardens free for income-eligible families offering advice to garden owners, community gardening workshops open to the public, and donating produce to pantries. greenagers.org

Railroad Street Youth Project provides group mentoring specifically designed for students of color. It expands horizons of young people by providing them with the sense of community and providing the support they need outside of schools and family. rsyp.org

UCP of Western MA serves people with all types of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy. The agency is dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity, and full community inclusion for everyone it supports. ucpwma.org

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JOIN US

With over 200 members who are passionate about giving back to the Berkshire Community, JWF uses the power of philanthropy to contribute to the betterment of our neighbors. The Berkshires has so many cultural and natural wonders that it is hard to believe it is one of the poorest counties in Massachusetts. But our reach is limited by available resources, which are dependent on the size of its membership. 
 

Your annual $750 contribution supports our grants program and enables us to help non-profit organizations improve the lives of our neighbors. All members are invited to serve on the Grants Committee, which decides how the funds are distributed.

Want to Get Involved?

There are many opportunities to become involved both within JWF and in the organizations JWF supports through our grants program.

• Events Committee
• Grants Committee
• Membership Committee
• Publicity Committee
• Volunteer Committee

To learn more, contact [email protected] and you will be contacted by the appropriate Committee Chair.

NEWS

More events being planned during the off season! If you are a full-timer or close-to-full-timer please reach out to Pam at [email protected] to be included. Suggestions invited.

PAST EVENTS

Season of Caring
We launched our Season of Caring on June 5 with our first ever Spring Fling at Wyantenuck Country Club. Our members enjoyed cocktails and a delicious dinner in a beautiful setting. JWF member and Broadway talent, Laura Urken and her band, supplied the musical entertainment. We were honored that State Representative Leigh Davis spoke about our organization and the work we do to fulfill our mission. Our successful event raised funds for our grant program. 

Grantee Day
June 9, 2025 marked our second annual Grantee Day. Our grantees and members mingled and learned first-hand how our grants impact our community and enhance life in the Berkshires. Grantees are the heart of our organization, and the reason we do what we do.

Annual Meeting
On June 20, JWF held our annual meeting and brunch at the Country Club of Pittsfield. Our program, chaired by Hope Silverman and Lainey Simonson, focused on immigration issues that are affecting our community. Melissa Canavan, Executive Director of the Berkshire Immigration Center, and Ilana Steinhauer, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine, provided insights how current policies are impacting the immigrant population in our community, and how important our grants are in providing much needed assistance. Rabbi Jodie Gordon, Senior Rabbi of Hevreh added spiritual inspiration and prayer.

Carol Striker and Geri Liemer were elected for another two year term as Presidents. Pam Kurtzer and Tina Kramer were elected as new Board members.
 

Cooking Class
Members enjoyed a Vietnamese cooking class in Julie Gale’s professional kitchen.

Legacy Project
Writer, filmmaker Barbara Newman held a Legacy Project Workshop to inspire members to help write the story of their lives. The morning was filled with laughter, great conversation and camaraderie as we delved into our own personal histories. 

Game Day
Game Day 2025 was a sold-out success. Chairs Carol Smoler and Deb Schreier created a meaningful experience raising funds for Israeli children impacted by the trauma of October 7, so they could experience a much needed respite at Camp Kimama/Half Moon, in the Berkshires. We have fun while doing good.

Our Education Committee chaired by Phyllis Cohen presented two interesting book/author discussion programs.

July 25, 2025 Panel Discussion.
Contributing authors, Jacqueline Friedland, Amy Blumenfeld and Samantha Greene Woodruff, from the best-selling anthology On Being Jewish Now talked about their essays and what it means for them to be Jewish Now. This book formed the Foundation of the group Artists Against Antisemitism, after the Israeli attacks on October 7, 2023. A lively conversation followed this interesting discussion.

August 15, 2025 - Education Chair, Phyllis Cohen moderated a most interesting book author discussion of The Evil Inclination with author Daniel Victor and audio narrator and JWF member, Laura Patinkin Urken. We were honored to have two renown talents in our midst.

September 4, 2025 we held our first ever Trivia Night. Members and guests had a great time…because ‘We have fun while doing good.’

October 12, 2025 Joan Ury, chaired a packing event partnering with United Way, Berkshire Bounty and Dignity Grows. Members came together for a rewarding morning of camaraderie as we fulfilled our mission of Tikkun Olam.

TESTIMONIALS

Dear Geri, Carol, Carol, and Deb,
Larry and I want to thank you for creating one of the most meaningful and inspiring community events we’ve experienced with JWF. Game Day was elevated to a whole new level thanks to your vision, your heart , and the powerful presence of Camp Kimama Halfmoon. Camp Director Yael Skikne, who so beautifully articulated the camp’s mission, shared its profound impact, and spoke movingly about the healing power of summer camp—especially for Israeli children still recovering from the trauma of October 7—was truly the heart of the day. To hear how this initiative allows children to simply be children again was deeply moving. It was a joy to learn that more than 50 kids are able to be here in Monterey this summer—and so impressive that an additional $4,500 was raised through your efforts. Having both Yael and COO Alon Parmet with us made the day feel not only purposeful, but deeply personal. It was joyous to sing the HaMotzi camp-style. Thank you for your leadership, your love, and your ability to turn a game day into something unforgettable.
– With admiration and gratitude, Elisa & Larry

“I’m so inspired by JWF’s grants. The needs are so great, I feel it’s incumbent upon each of us to do whatever we can to help alleviate problems facing so many in our community.
– Pat Fingeroth

“Joining the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires has added another wonderful dimension to my life in the Berkshires. It has given me an opportunity to give back to this magical community. I feel it is truly a gift to be a member of the Foundation. To be able to be a part of all the important work it does for so many people.”
– Pommy Levy

“I’m proud to be a charter member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires as we’ve done so much to help our less fortunate neighbors in both the Jewish and greater communities. Most people think of this area as one of arts and culture without realizing that it is actually one of the poorest in the region.  Helping to combat food and housing insecurity, promoting education, empowering women, as well as caring for Jewish youth and seniors represent a small sampling of what we’ve accomplished. Working with other bright and caring women towards tikkun olam is one of the most gratifying experiences ever.”
- Bobbi Cohn

 “As a privileged second homeowner who enjoys all the cultural and social blessings of the Berkshires, I was unaware and ignorant of the financial and emotional stresses that many residents face in their daily lives. Only after I volunteered at the Muddy Brook School’s tutoring program and joined the Jewish Women’s Foundation Grants Committee did I become cognizant of the needs of people in the community who are struggling and are largely invisible to us.  They are experiencing food insecurity, employment instability, a deficit of skills and resources to help them cope with huge ongoing pressures, made more acute during this pandemic period.”
- Elaine Cohen

“I found that packing boxes for Meals of Hope so personally rewarding - I couldn’t stop smiling when I left. This organization is so focused on its goals - I think most people are unaware of the level of poverty in this area. Kudos to our organizers.” 
- Sue Sussman

2022 GRANT TESTIMONIALS

“This grant is arriving just in time to be factored into our plans to upgrade our facilities for our clients and our many volunteers. We could not do this without community supporters like you.”

- Nancy Cook, South Community Food Pantry
 

“Your generosity helps us further our mission to connect young people with their community and the great outdoors in hands-on, meaningful ways.”

- Will Conklin, Executive Director, Greenagers
 

“…thank you for your contribution and support. Your donations are vital to our ongoing impact on food insecurity in our community.”

- Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director, Berkshire Bounty
 

“This grant will help participants make strides toward financial independence and self-sufficiency and position themselves and their children for a better future. We couldn’t do it without you and we are full of gratitude for your generosity.”

- Sarah Cook, President and CEO, 18 Degrees

CONTACT US

196 South Street Pittsfield, MA 01201
phone: 413-442-4360
email: [email protected]

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