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Berkshire Bank, Pittsfield, MA

Entry Year: 2017
Entry Category: Volunteerism
Asset Size: Medium
Program Name: Xtraordinary Day

Program Summary:

In 2016, it started with the basic core belief that as a community bank we have a responsibility to make a difference. That belief manifested into a revolutionary idea, a day dedicated to service where all our employees could be out in the community volunteering. It was big & bold and we believed that by leveraging the power of our people we could transform our communities. For the second year in a row, we made it all possible with Xtraordinary Day. On June 7th we closed all our offices early so thousands of employees could undertake impactful service projects in communities across the country. While we have volunteer events year round, this day highlights the power of the brand by making it possible for all of our employees to participate.

92% of the company joined in 65 projects on Xtraordinary Day that were selected & executed by local employees in states across the country. Employees did their fair share of painting and clean-ups but also provided financial literacy lessons & leveraged their expertise to help over 430,000 community members.

We talk about how our volunteer efforts bring our corporate values to life but this day was about much more. This day was about leading with those values. We believe in the transformative power of volunteering so much that we were willing to close down to make sure every employee had the opportunity to be part of it. That’s a bold statement. While we’re not unique in those beliefs, what sets us apart is how central it is to our culture. It’s how we deliver on our America’s Most Exciting Bank brand.