23-04-2025
Berkshire Bank recognizes employee for over 400 hours of volunteering
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Berkshire Bank employee has been recognized as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year for her generosity and dedication to volunteer work within the community.
On Wednesday, the bank announced that Vice President and Consumer Lending Compliance Officer Heather Hans was selected for this year's award as part of National Volunteer Week. Hans received this honor in recognition of her participation in a variety of company-sponsored events and organizations, and her donation of over 400 hours in 2024 to volunteering.
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Berkshire Bank said that in 2024, 100% of employees volunteered in their communities, a milestone for the company. Over 11,500 hours of service were put into more than 250 company-sponsored projects in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
'Helping others doesn't have to be a big gesture,' Hans said. 'I believe it's the little things that make the difference, and Berkshire does too, which is why I'm so grateful to work at this organization. That's who we are.'
Nineteen other employees were honored for volunteering over 150 hours in 2024 as members of the 2025 Volunteer Honor Roll.
To show appreciation for Hans' dedication, the Berkshire Bank Foundation said it plans to make a $1,000 contribution to the American Cancer Society of the Capital Region of New York, one of the organizations Hans volunteered for the most. Each member of the 2025 Honor Roll will also select a nonprofit for the foundation to donate $250 to.
'Our 2025 Volunteer of the Year is a shining example of Berkshire's values in action,' said Lori Kiely, Managing Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. 'Her commitment to giving back to our communities is what we mean when we say, 'Where you bank matters.' Supporting our communities is a key component of our culture across the organization.'
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