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A BENEFIT SUPPORTING BIC’S LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES FOR BERKSHIRE IMMIGRANTS

June 9, 2024

Shakespeare & Company
Tina Packer Playhouse  
Lenox, Massachusetts

Lead Business Partner

 
 
 
 

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants through affordable legal services, local resources, and education.


BEACON OF HOPE BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Marianna Poutasse, Committee Chair & BIC Board Member
Kate Barton, BIC Board President
Lisa Avery, Laurie Bank, Linda Ruberto, Mary Spina
Melissa Canavan, BIC Executive Director
Sheryl Lechner, BIC Development Director

BERKSHIRE IMMIGRANT CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kate Barton, President
Dariana Castro, Vice President
Auric Enchill, Secretary
Josh Hochberg, Treasurer

Bob Bogomolny, Gloria Escobar, Ahmed Ismail, Roberta McCulloch-Dews, Marianna Poutasse, Dave Russell, Stan Shapshay, Carole Siegel, Joe Zlatnik


PROGRAM

HORS D'OEUVRES & DRINKS

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Melissa Canavan, Executive Director
Kate Barton, Board President

"LIGHTING THE WAY" PREMIERE
Our new short film spotlights how your support improves the lives of Berkshire Immigrant Center's clients.
Special thanks to James Warwick for conceiving the film & to Lisa Avery for co-coordinating

RAISE-THE-PADDLE TO SUPPORT BERKSHIRE IMMIGRANTS
Rachel Lockton, auctioneer

NATALIA BERNAL & THE EN DIABLADA QUINTET
Natalia Bernal, vocals 
Jason Ennis, guitar 
Itaiguara Brandão, bass 
Mauricio Zottarelli, drums
Michael Zsoldos, saxophone

Musical Performance sponsored by Lewis Pollack, in memory of Renee Rotta

 
 

ABOUT NATALIA BERNAL & THE EN DIABLADA QUINTET

Call it Andean Jazz. Inspired by the rich cultural legacy and striking natural beauty of her native Chile, Natalia Bernal’s En Diablada project fuses Andean and other South American folkloric traditions to create a unique and engrossing musical atmosphere. Listen closely and you will hear elements of bossa nova, samba, candombe, boleros and tangos, along with jazz, blues, and rock. En Diablada is a vivid window into Natalia’s mind and her dreams of the Atacama Desert, the people that inhabited the lands thousands of years ago, and how their heritage can teach us to navigate the new paradigms of society. Joining Bernal in the quintet configuration of this project is guitarist/co-composer/musical director Jason Ennis, saxophonist Michael Zsoldos, NYC-based Brazilian bassist Itaiguara Brandão, and Grammy-nominated Brazilian drummer Mauricio Zottarelli.

MORE INFORMATION
Natalia Bernal: facebook.com/nataliabernalmusic 
Itaiguara Brandão: itaiguara.com
Jason Ennis: jasonennis.com 
Mauricio Zottarelli: mzdrums.com
Michael Zsoldos: michaelzsoldos.com

 
 

BERKSHIRE IMMIGRANT CENTER IS GRATEFUL TO THE MAJOR SPONSORS OF THIS EVENT

LEAD SPONSORS 
Sherwood Guernsey
The Gilson Family Foundation

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LEAD BUSINESS SPONSOR
Greylock Federal Credit Union

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PRODUCING SPONSOR
Dena and John Fisher, in memory of Jean Weisman
Joan & James Hunter
Lewis Pollack, in memory of Renee Rotta
Rebecca & Michael Thompson

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PLATINUM SPONSORS
Anonymous 
Kathleen M. Chrisman
Craig Smith, in memory of Virginia Stanton Smith
Kim & James Taylor

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GOLD SPONSORS
Adams Community Bank 
Anonymous
Laurie Bank & Stuart Freyer 
Berkshire Money Management
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation 
Christian Galvez-Padilla
Lee Bank
Martin, Hochberg & Cianflone, PLLP 
Jacqueline & Jaan Metsma
Judy Moss
Bruno & Mary Ann Quinson 
Richard & Karen Rowe, in honor of Afghan parolees & other brave new neighbors
Dave Russell & Debra Miersma 
Stan & Ruth Shapshay

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SILVER SPONSORS
Berkshire Health Systems
Beverly Hosokawa, in memory of Dave Hosokawa
Robert Lee Catherine & James Miller
Tableaux Wealth

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BRONZE SPONSORS
1Berkshire Arienti + Klepetar LLP
Lisa M. Avery & Robert M. Henriquez 
Balance Rock Investment Group 
Kate Barton & Sam Craig
Berkshire Food Co-op 
Bill & Hinda Bodinger 
Claudia Coplan
Brian H. Fairbank/Fairbank Family Fund 
Guido's Fresh Marketplace 
Oskar Hallig & Mike Zippel
Jae's Restaurant
Michelle Lopez, in memory of Juan Ramos 
Barbara A. Mahony, in memory of Donald Mahony 
Mazzeo's Ristorante
Marianna Poutasse & Eric Korenman 
Ramelle & Michael Pulitzer, Jr.
Paul Rich & Sons Home Furnishings + Design
Laura Rosenthal
Susan Rothschild & Don Freedman, in honor of Mary Spina
Linda Ruberto
Liz Stell & Bill Matthiesen 
The Annie Selke Companies 
Theory Wellness
Sheila & Randy Thunfors 
Rena Zurofsky

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BIC GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING DONORS
Robert Apter, in honor of Mary Spina
George Bergen
Ricky Bernstein, in honor of John Halbreich 
Susan Birns
John & Melissa Bissell 
Marilyn & Sam Bittman 
Blue Q
Bob Bogomolny & Janice Toran 
Jeffry & Marcella Bradway 
Laurel & Mario Caluori
Alan & Roselle Chartock 
Marjorie Cohan
Laurence D. Cohen & Linda Mitchell 
Valerie Coleman 
Chauncey Collins
Paula Consolini & James Mahon 
Tania & Jack Deary
Tim & Katie Doherty
Dulye & Company / Linda Dulye, in memory of Mary Vuolo
Janet & John Egelhofer 
Ursula Ehret-Dichter 
Alan Friedman
Virginia & James Giddens 
Susan Gold
Peter & Wendy Gordon 
Barbara Grill
Dale & Patti Grimshaw 
Ellen & Scott Hand 
Peter & Phyllis Hofman
Bert & Jill Horowitz 
Leo & Merle Kailas 
Jennifer Kennedy
Robert D. Kraus & Kathleen M. Morris 
Judith Lamet
Marcia & Michael Lechner 
Ellen & Stuart Masters 
Scottie Mills
Ann & Don Morrison 
Alex & Judith Nardacci 
Carol Parrish
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank 
Andrew Potler & Marcia Powdermaker
Loretta Scheel & Robert Bujalski 
Carl & Claudia Shuster
Phil & Susan Smith 
Alice & Larry Spatz 
Bob & Carol Stegeman 
Martha Storey
Rose Ann & William Sturgeon 
Mary Taylor
Audrey Thier & Peter Murphy 
Barbara Viniar
Elizabeth & James Wade 
Susanne Walker
Zhi Wang 
Windy Hill Farm, Inc.
Deborah Winslow

Sponsor and supporter lists reflect gifts and pledges received by 5/22/24.
We apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions.

 
 

TEAM BIC

Melissa Canavan, Executive Director
Lorena Dus, Director of Client and Community Services
Sheryl Lechner, Development Director
Jennifer Smith, Education Director
Ashly Alvis, Case Worker
Beth Stomberg, Development Assistant
Ivan Victoriano, Intake Coordinator

VOLUNTEERS
Laurie Bank; Connie Bergs; Charles Bonenti; Jim Brooke; Jim Ciullo; Claudia Coplan; Marilyn Orner Cromwell; Hilary Greene, Volunteer Case Worker & former Director; Philippe Jeanjean; Isabelle Kaplan; Jilly Lederman; Marlena Leonard; Erin McNamara; Judy Nardacci; Betty Palucci; Donovan Snyder; Lucy St. James


THANK YOU! 

EVENT MAESTROS
Oskar Hallig y Mike Zippel, Only In My Dreams Events

FOOD
Some Things Fishy Catering, LTD

INVITATION & PROGRAM DESIGN
Katherine Casey, Little Fin Creative

VIDEO PRODUCTION & PARTICIPATION 
Ryan Cowdrey, Clayson Creative
Robert Henriquez & Lisa Avery, Diandra Mongeon, Daniel Yameogo & Marie Helene Yameogo

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR IN-KIND DONORS 
Domaney’s Liquors and Fine Wines 
Hot Plate Brewing Company
Kwik Print, Inc.
Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion & Museum 
David Dashiell

Team BIC shares its appreciation to everyone at Shakespeare & Company for their gracious & supportive hosting of the Beacon of Hope Benefit.


 
 

AND A FINAL THANK YOU TO YOU & ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the local immigrant community, along with Immigrant Heritage Month, and for your generous giving to the Berkshire Immigrant Center.

 

FOUR WAYS TO DONATE

  1. IN PERSON:  Visit the Beacon of Hope table at the benefit event.

  2. ONLINE:  Visit Beacon of Hope 2024

  3. BY TEXT:  Text BIC2024 a 44-321

  4. BY CHECK
    Make payable to “Berkshire Immigrant Center”: 
    Berkshire Immigrant Center
    67 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Questions? Please email:: sheryl@berkshireic.org