The Joy to Dance dance team from UCP, led by Susan Jameson, of Bobby Sartori, Ryan Boesse, Lisa Myers, Britney Dorwin and Laura Hawke performs for Northern Berkshire United Way members.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Carrie Piaggi wanted the nearly 160 staff and supporters of the Northern Berkshire United Way to know their time and money was being well spent.
Speaking at the annual campaign roundup at the Williams Inn on Friday morning, Piaggi explained how this year had been a busy one for her.
"I took hold of my independence and made changes I needed to make," she said. "I moved into a new home, entered college, started making my own medical decisions, and working on getting my learner's permit."
Piaggi had been able to do all of those things thanks to the support of United Cerebral Palsy, a member agency of Northern Berkshire United Way. NBUW had helped with the funding of support hours through UCP that allowed Piaggi to socialize and learn the skills she needed to be come independent and advocate on her own behalf.
"It is comforting sometimes to know that there is family support staff there to encourage people to demand the same medical, physical and professional support everyone gets," she said. "The hours funded by the United Way are so important to not only the people who receive them but to their families. ... These hours are so valued by those who receive them.
"Having people living to their whole life potential is the most important thing, isn't it?"
NBUW has been providing that platform for potential for 76 years through its support of nearly two dozen health and human services agencies in the region. The nonprofit agency brings in more than $3.5 million a year in fundraising and grants to support more than 10,000 residents attending 50 programs ranging from youth programs to skills training to legal aid.
The agency last year shook up its annual campaign drive by eliminating the formal campaign chairman and instead sectioning the drive into smaller sections.
NBUW board President Amy Giroux said the effort was met with good results ... "to date we have raised $500,000 and counting."
The annual fund drive relies heavily on local organizations and individuals, particularly entities that collaborate through employee payroll deductions.
Executive Director Joseph McGovern thanked all those who had donated and selected six groups in particular whose contributions or participation had increased over time.
"What's awesome here is that these first three are member agencies who are trying to give back to the entire community through the United Way campaign," he said, commending Berkshire Family and Individual Resources, Elder Services of Berkshire County and Berkshire Community Action Council.
While NBT Bank does not have a corporate participation, the employees, on their own, decided they wanted to contribute through collections and fundraisers that have increased annually.
Greylock Federal Credit Union for the first time reached the platinum level for contributing $25,000 or more in corporate and employee contributions; Adams Community Bank, already at platinum, was cited for increasing its donation every year for the past five years.
McGovern said the response the agency had gotten was "truly incredible."
"It was also uplifting to see how many people would approach myself or our guest speaker at the employee campaign rallies and tell stories of how their sister, their mother, their grandfather or next-door neighbor was getting support or help from one or more of our member agencies," he said. "It became even more clear that through our member agencies we are truly making a difference, from the day that someone is born to the day that they are ready to say their final goodbyes."
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The Joy to Dance dance team from UCP, led by Susan Jameson, of Bobby Sartori, Ryan Boesse, Lisa Myers, Britney Dorwin and Laura Hawke performs for Northern Berkshire United Way members. 
