Introducing Berkshire's Paying It Forward
Dear Berkshire Community,
We are excited to share an unprecedented opportunity to make an impact on Berkshire's future:
Berkshire recognizes the importance of planned giving to ensure that the Berkshire experience will be available forever.
We hope you'll join us in Paying It Forward. By coming together in support of Berkshire's future, we can leave our School even stronger than it was when we graduated.
Please read below to learn more about what prompted us to include Berkshire in our estate plans and to find out how you can participate in this challenge.
To begin a conversation, please contact Director of Advancement Andrew Bogardus at 413-229-1237 or abogardus@berkshireschool.org or Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving Bill Bullock at 413-229-1368 or wbullock@berkshireschool.org.
With appreciation for the part you play in Paying It Forward for Berkshire,
Bebe Bullock '86
Hans Carstensen III '66
Godman Society Co-Chairs
What do we mean by paying it forward?
One of the greatest unrecognized and largely unappreciated benefits of attending Berkshire was that each year we were under the Mountain, each of us received "financial aid" equal to a present-day value of $25,000. This "aid" came in the form of the buildings built prior to our arrival and from endowed funds created by those who came before us.
As students, we may not have thought about what it took to keep Berkshire "Berkshire". Today, more of us understand the true costs of maintaining state-of-the-art buildings that make a standout campus and of recruiting and retaining the best faculty—all in the name of sustaining the quality of the Berkshire experience.
Where will your gift make an impact?
Using as our benchmark the annual $25,000 we received in "aid" over a four-year Berkshire education, we’ve each chosen to make a planned gift commitment of at least $100,000. Our gifts will go toward building Berkshire’s endowments for students and faculty—priorities identified as the principal drivers of the School’s long-term success. $100,000 may not be the right number for you, but we ask that you consider the far-reaching impact you can make on the School.
Share your gift intention in two steps:
- Name Berkshire School in your will or as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, bank account, or life insurance.
- Tell us about your intention by completing this Paying It Forward Reply Form or contact Director of Advancement Andrew Bogardus at 413-229-1237 or abogardus@berkshireschool.org or Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving Bill Bullock at 413-229-1368 or wbullock@berkshireschool.org to begin a conversation.