BCC and Mill Town Foundation Aim to Ignite Philanthropic Giving

PITTSFIELD, MA — Since 2016, Berkshire Community College (BCC) has held 40 Under Forty, an annual celebration that honors 40 young people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts who have made a difference in their communities. Winners range from small business owners, nonprofit community leaders, public servants and educators, to mental health professionals.

This year's winners, who will be honored on March 28, 2024, have more to celebrate than their impressive impact in the Berkshires. For the first time, Mill Town Foundation will provide funding for each 40 Under Forty recipient to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization.

Designed to promote purposeful giving, the Mill Town Foundation initiative encourages each award recipient to research area nonprofit organizations to gain an extensive understanding of their mission and work before choosing which organization to support.

Mill Town Foundation: Empowering Purposeful Giving (PDF)

Mill Town logo
To promote and engender the spirit of philanthropy, we are proud to empower the 40 Under Forty recipients with the ability to support their community. When young people experience the value of philanthropy first-hand, it becomes an important part of their lives, and they pass it on to future generations. This cycle is critical to the well-being and sustainability of a healthy community.

Dave Mixer, Founder of Mill Town Foundation

Mill Town Foundation's philosophy of philanthropy is rooted in the belief that impact requires a thoughtful and holistic approach to giving — one that goes beyond the act of charity, focusing instead on collaboration and sustainability.

"The nonprofit organizations of the Berkshires are essential to the way of life here. Giving back to these institutions is not only a way of thanking them, but also a way to promote giving in general," said Berkshire Community College President Ellen Kennedy. "The incredible gift from Mill Town Foundation is an opportunity for 40 Under Forty award recipients to serve as inspiration for a shared movement toward philanthropy across the Berkshires."

The Berkshire County based nonprofit organizations listed below were selected by the 40 Under Forty award recipients to receive at least one $1,000 re-gift (some organizations received gifts from more than one recipient):

  • 18 Degrees
  • 1Berkshire
  • The Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation c/o 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance Foundation
  • 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program
  • African Francophone of the Berkshires
  • Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
  • Berkshire County Arc
  • Berkshire County Kids' Place
  • Berkshire Education and Correction Services, Inc.
  • Berkshire Humane Society
  • Berkshire Immigrant Center
  • Berkshire Nursing Families
  • Berkshire Pride
  • Berkshire United Way
  • BFAIR
  • Boy's and Girls Club of the Berkshires
  • Community Access to the Arts (CATA)
  • Construct
  • Elder Services of Berkshire County Inc
  • Entrepreneurship for All, Berkshire County
  • Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center
  • Heart and Soil Collective, Inc
  • Lanesborough-New Ashford Dollars for Scholars
  • Love of T Foundation, Inc.
  • NAMI Berkshire County
  • No Paws Left Behind
  • Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
  • Northern Berkshire United Way
  • Stearns Elementary PTA
  • The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • The Pediatric Development Center
  • Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) Berkshires
  • Word X Word Inc. c/o Adelson and Company, PC

40 Under Forty winners are chosen based on their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, or other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the Berkshires. The event supports the Berkshire Community College Foundation, which manages more than 180 BCC student scholarships totaling more than $375,000 and supports a number of programs at the College, particularly focused on workforce development. 1Berkshire, the official Regional Economic Development Organization and Regional Tourism Council of Berkshire County, is a strategic partner of the event. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the event, visit 40 Under Forty.

40 Under Forty logo

Mill Town Foundation is a private operating foundation based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The foundation runs community programs and catalyzes innovative initiatives to make Pittsfield and the Berkshires a great place to live, work and play. For more information, visit Mill Town Foundation.