Women's Club of the Berkshires Scholarship Fund Grant

The Women's Club of the Berkshires Scholarship Fund, established through the sale of the historic Thomas Colt House, aims to empower female students in Berkshire County. Managed by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the fund reflects a commitment to improving the welfare of women in the community. Preference is given to applicants pursuing careers that benefit girls and women, ensuring that the legacy of philanthropy and community support continues in this picturesque region.

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation was established in 1987 in Salisbury, Conn., with an anonymous donation of $100,000. Originally an affiliate of the New York Community Trust, the foundation became an independent public charity in 1990. Today, BTCF manages more than 550 funds that put over $14 million into action each year. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation serves Berkshire, Columbia, northeast Dutchess and northwest Litchfield counties. This unique area where New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts meet contains 2,200 square miles of natural beauty and small-town charm that is home to nearly 230,000 people.
Mission: Strengthening communities through philanthropy and leadership.
Vision:  All residents have opportunity for economic mobility and a high quality of life.
Values:
The Women’s Club of the Berkshires sold its property and donated the assets to create two funds, one of which is the Women's Club of the Berkshires Scholarship Fund. The Club wanted to carry on it's mission of fostering and improving the welfare of all women in Berkshire County.
The assets for the Fund came from the sale of the Thomas Colt House in Pittsfield. The Italian style villa was constructed in 1865 by Thomas Colt, an 1842 Williams College graduate. In 1937 local businessman Simon England, Sr. purchased the 15-room Civil War Era home from Miss Ruth Mill’s Private School, and deeded the home to the Women’s Club as a memorial to his late wife. The Club was incorporated in 1954, and renamed The Women’s Club of the Berkshires to reflect the growth and diversity of its members who live throughout the Berkshires and neighboring states.

Eligibility

Female students who are residents of Berkshire County.