Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation

PURPOSE: FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS WE HAVE OFFERED A SATURDAY PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL-AGED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES,WITH A FOCUS OF CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THE PROGRAM WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH KIDS OFFERING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE STRATEGIES TO HELP THE CHILD ACHIEVE IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE: THIS CAN INCLUDESOCIAL SKILLS, SENSORY DEVELOPMENT, MANAGING EMOTIONS, PRACTICING PATIENCE, MANAGING LOSS (AS IN A GAMESITUATION), WHO TO TRUST, UNDERSTANDING BOUNDARIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND MORE. THE PROGRAM HAS NOW BEEN CLOSED FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS ASA RESULT OF COVID.WE ARE GRADUALLY STARTING IT AGAIN, AND REALIZE WE ARE ATTRACTING A WIDER RANGE OF AGES AND FUNCTION LEVELS, MAKING IT HARD TO CONDUCT THE PROGRAM IN ONE GROUP. WE SEE WE WILL NEED TWO OR THREE GROUPS MOVINGFORWARD. THIS WILL REQUIRE A STAFF MEMBER FOR EACH GROUP, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CURRICULA, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ACTIVITIES AND SUPPLIES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE, ETC.

PURPOSE: BCRHA IS REQUESTING FUNDING THIS YEAR TO CONTINUE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH BCRHA'S TENANCY PRESERVATIONPROGRAM (TPP).IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING COURT, TPP WORKS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS TO DETERMINEWHETHER A DISABLED TENANT CAN BE REASONABLY ACCOMMODATED TO PRESERVE AN EXISTING TENANCY. TPP STAFF ASSESSTHE REASONS FOR EVICTION, IDENTIFY NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, DEVELOP A PLAN TO ENGAGE SERVICES, OR IN SOMECASES RE-ENGAGE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES, FOR THE HOUSEHOLD, AND THEN MONITOR THE STABILIZATION PROCESS. PRESERVING EACH HOUSEHOLD'S TENANCY IS THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF TPP. HOWEVER, SHOULD A TENANCY BE UNSUSTAINABLE, TPP WILLASSIST THE TENANTS IN ACCESSING MORE APPROPRIATE HOUSING OPTIONS.

PURPOSE: WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE BERKSHIRE LIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IN THEAMOUNT OF $10,000 FOR OUR ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS AND AQUA THRILLS CLASSES, AN AQUATICPROGRAM SERVING THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTIES PARTICIPATING IN TRADITIONAL LESSONS. BERKSHIRE SOUTH IS THE ONLY FACILITY WITH A WARM-WATER THERAPY POOL OF ITS TYPE IN SOUTH COUNTY,AND OUR AQUATICS CENTER IS HEAVILY USED BY MANY LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AS WELL ASAGENCIES BRINGING THEIR PATIENTS AND CLIENTS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY, THERAPEUTIC SWIMMING, ANDWATER-BASED EXERCISE.

PURPOSE: PROVIDING MEANINGFUL MUSICAL EXPERIENCE TO ALL POPULATIONS IS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE BERKSHIRE MUSIC SCHOOL, ANDOUR MAKING MUSIC: CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OURCOMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS SENIOR ADULTS LIVINGWITH LIMITATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AGING. THE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPSBRING BMS FACULTY MEMBERS INTO RESIDENCES AND DAY FACILITIES MANAGED BY BERKSHIRE COUNTY ARC AND OTHERASSISTED LIVING AND ADULT DAY-TIME CARE CENTERS.

PURPOSE: BLUE RIDER STABLES' THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAMS SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT BERKSHIRECOUNTY AND THE TRI-STATE AREA. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN REACHING THOSE WITHDISABILITIES WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS OR MANY OTHER PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES.

PURPOSE: BRANCHES SCHOOL OF THE BERKSHIRES IS A NONPROFIT PRIVATE SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DIAGNOSISBY A QUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. BRANCHES SCHOOL OPENED IN JULY, 2021WITH ITS FIRST STUDENT. BRANCHES SCHOOL WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE GROUND UP BY HELEN BLOOMER AND KASSYVORCE. THE REQUESTED FUNDING IS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MATERIALS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONALSERVICES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ATTEND BRANCHES. THIS INCLUDES: PAINT AND SERVICE TO PAINT FOR 2 NEWCLASSROOMS -- VOCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS, AND FURNITURE AND MATERIALS FOR THESE ROOMS.