PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Berkshire Family YMCA celebrated the completion of a major renovation project at its Pittsfield location on Monday.

“We did it," executive director Jess Rumlow said. "I stand in front of all of you with a humble heart because I know it took the community, the state, and even the country to make this project happen.”

What You Need To Know

  • The Berkshire Family YMCA held a ribbon cutting for the renovations to their Pittsfield location on Monday. The building dates back to 1909

  • Plans for the $12.4-million improvements began in 2017 and officially broke ground in 2021

  • Childcare enrollment and membership numbers are up at the Pittsfield YMCA, according to YMCA board member Matthew Scarafoni

  • The "Full of Possibilities Capital Campaign" is still trying to raise $1.2 million for the project

Rumlow thanked the project’s many supporters, including Rep. Richard Neal and Sen. Ed Markey, who, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, helped secure $1 million in federal funding. Neal and Markey applaud the YMCA for meeting the recreational needs of Berkshire County families.

“Members of the House and members of the Senate, we don’t wake up in the morning thinking of how to spend money," Neal said. "The requests that we have come from nonprofits, colleges and universities and local government.”

“How could we say no?" Markey said. "This was something that absolutely deserved to have the kind of support which has resulted in this fabulous facility.”

Renovations have been completed in phases. The state’s Department of Early Education and Care highlighted the improvements made to the early education portion of the building. Commissioner Amy Kershaw said YMCA’s are the largest provider of childcare across the Commonwealth.

“The flow of learning for our children and for the educators is exactly what it should be," Kershaw said. "So, this program represents everything we want to be in early education. We're supporting parents to participate in the economy; 30 more spaces for families who desperately want to come to this beautiful program. We're supporting economic mobility and educational attainment for the educators here, which we hope will lead to greater wages and more professionalization of the field. And you're supporting the whole community.”

Although the renovations are complete, funding is still being raised for this project. Anyone interested in donating is asked to contact Berkshire Family YMCA's Executive Director/CEO, Jess Rumlow, by emailing jrumlow@bfymca.org or calling 413-499-7650 x112. Interest may also be expressed to the campaign's committee chair, Matthew Scarafoni, by emailing mjscarafoni@scarafonifinancial.com.