BEACON OF HOPE

LAKOU MIZIK is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians united in a mission to spread awareness about traditional Haitian culture. In Haitian Creole, the word lakou carries multiple meanings. It can mean a backyard or a collective place where people gather to play music and dance. It can also be an extended community, or a connection to one’s ancestors. As a band, Lakou Mizik embodies a little of each meaning — bringing music, community, and spiritual connection to backyards (and festivals) across the globe. 

Lakou Mizik also incorporates elements of Rara, a form of Carnival music based in Vodou, in which drummers and horn players lead joyous processions through the streets. The group formed in Port-au-Prince in 2010 in response to the combined catastrophes of a devastating earthquake, an epidemic, and a political crisis.

lakoumizik.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 SPONSORS –
Dena & John Fisher, in memory of Martha & Jean Weismann
Joan & Jim Hunter
Lewis Pollack, in memory of Renee Rotta 
The SAMA Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Joanna Rebecca Thompson &  Michael C. Thompson

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– PLATINUM SPONSORS –
Anonymous,  in memory of Virginia Stanton Smith
Scott & Ellen Hand
Jaan & Jacqueline Metsma
Fred & Susan Puddester

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– GOLD SPONSORS –
Laurie Bank & Stuart Freyer
Christine & Tack Burbank, in honor of Judge James Boasberg
Christian Galvez-Padilla
Steve & Jorie Latham
Martin, Hochberg & Cianflone, PLLP
Dave Russell & Debra Miersma
Peter Schulte
Ruth & Stan Shapshay
Liz Stell & Bill Matthiesen
Kim & James Taylor

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– SILVER  SPONSORS  –
Adams Community Bank
Berkshire Health Systems
Hinda & Bill Bodinger
Heleny Cook
Tom &  Liz Costley
Lionel Delevingne & Judith Wilkinson
John & Marilou Hyson
Susan & Edward Kopelowitz
Lee Bank
Robert B. Lee, M.D.
Pat &  Lou Levine
James & Mary Maxymillian
Ramelle & Michael Pulitzer
Bruno & Mary Ann Quinson
Marietta Rapetti Cawse & James N. Cawse
Linda Ruberto

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– BRONZE SPONSORS –
Arienti + Klepetar LLP
Balance Rock Investment Group
Kate Barton & Sam Craig
Berkshire Food Co-op
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
John &  Melissa Bissell
Claudia  L. Coplan
Palma Fleck & Francis Spina
Oskar Hallig & Mike Zippel
Cynthia Hashim
Peter & Phyllis Hofman
Beverly Hosokawa, in honor of Dorree Ndooki
Michelle & Raider Lopez,
in honor of the BIC employees, volunteers and board members doing so much during such a difficult time
Barbara Mahony, in memory of Donald Mahony
Catherine & James Miller
Paul Rich & Sons Home Furnishings + Design
Douglas Pollack
Marianna Poutasse & Eric Korenman
Susan Rothschild & Don Freedman 
Erin & Alan Seagrave
Theory Wellness
Randolph &  Sheila Thunfors
Rena Zurofsky

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BIC GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING DONORS
John & Jane Allen
Anonymous
Lisa Avery, in honor of Robert M. Henriquez
Al Bashevkin & Nancy Pearlman
Ruth Bass
Barbara T. Bell
George Bergen
Ricky Bernstein & Elizabeth Cary
Blue Q
Charles Bonenti & Stephanie Johnson
Louise & Gunter Breitmaier
Brian & Vikki Fairbank Fund
Sara Jeanne Burke
Katharine Burnett
William & Joy Cameron
Mary Caroline Carmichael
Roselle & Alan Chartock
Kathleen Chrisman
Marjorie Cohan
Chauncey Collins
Janice Cook & Cecil Driver
Amy Cooper
Joseph Crawford-Kelly
Tim & KatieDoherty
Ellen Doyle & Robert Bence
Janet Egelhofer
Ursula Ehret-Dichter
Louise & Frank Farkas
Eugenie Fawcett
Diane Forsyth & Bill Frazier
Alan Friedman
Jerry & Maryjane Fromm
John & Ann Galt
Cathy &  John Garcia, in honor of Robert Henriquez
Virginia Giddens
Wendy Gordon
Jennifer Hansell, in honor of Lorena Dus
Ruth Harrison
Cynthia Heller
Margaret Hornick
Bert & Jill Horowitz
Jack & Connie Hume
Cheryl Hutto & Belle Fox-Martin
Merle Duskin Kailas
Isabelle Kaplan
Sharon Karlin
Jennifer Kennedy 
Kevin Kennefick & Susan Killam
Fred & Brenda Landes
Marcia & Michael Lechner
Michael  & Sandra MacDonald
Ellen & Stuart Masters
Bonnie McCubbin
Margery Metzger
Judy Moss
Alex & Judith Nardacci
Sandra Newman
Clifford & Lynne Nilan
Carol Perkins
Stephen & Patricia Peters
Allan & Susan Pike
Dave Pill
Christine Polk
Jonathan & Amy Poorvu
David & Marsha Pottle
Margaret Poutasse
Mary Jo Ramos
Herb & Paula Rod
Amanda Roe
Dave Russel & Debra Miersma
Rose Scotch
Carl & Claudia Shuster
Carole Siegel
Lisa Sloane
Elske Smith
Susan & Phil Smith
Bob & Carol Stegeman
Zhi Wang & Warshaw
Diane Weinstein
Margot Welch
Windy Hill Farm, Inc.
Barbara Winslow
Deborah Winslow
Irene Wolcott
Rene Wood & Dennis Sears
Dr. Natalya Yantovsky, DMD
Harvey & Janis Zimbler

Sponsor and supporter lists reflect gifts and pledges received by 5/22/25. We apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions.

- TEAM BIC -
Melissa Canavan, Executive Director
Lorena Dus, Director of Client & Community Services
Sheryl Lechner, Development Director
Donovan Snyder, Education Director
Jacob Greer, Assistant Case Worker
Anny Lopez Urquizo, Assistant Case Worker
Beth Stomberg, Development Assistant
Isabel Beauchamp, Intake Coordinator
Kennedy Merriam, Front Desk Assistant

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

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– A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! –
The Berkshire Immigrant Center salutes the more than four dozen people who volunteer in many ways to help keep the Center thriving and serve our clients. Shout-out to Charles Boneti, Cassie Giardina, Anna Claire Korenman, Erin McNamara, and others who are helping the Beacon of Hope benefit run smoothly; and to Hilary Greene, the Center’s former director, who has maintained her federal accreditation so that she can continue to serve as a volunteer caseworker year-round at BIC. 

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- A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR IN-KIND DONORS -
Berkshire Mountain Distillers
Domaney’s Liquors and Fine Wines 
Hot Plate Brewing Company
Eric Korenman Photography, korenman.com
Michael Nancollas, Handful Photography

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

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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.

All donations help fund the life-changing services of the Berkshire Immigrant Center in Pittsfield, serving the estimated 10,000 immigrants of Berkshire County.

FOUR WAYS TO DONATE

1. IN PERSON:  Visit the Beacon of Hope benefit check-out table

2. ONLINE:  Visit Beacon of Hope 2025

3. BY TEXT:  Text BIC2025 a 44-321

4. BY CHECK: 
   Make payable to “Berkshire Immigrant Center” and mail to:
   Berkshire Immigrant Center, 141 North Street, Suite 303, Pittsfield , MA 01201

Questions? Please email:: sheryl@berkshireic.org