Great Barrington, Mass – Berkshire South Regional Community Center is privileged to honor Massachusetts State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli at its annual fundraising Gala being held on August 17th, 2018 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington MA 01230. Guests will enjoy spirits, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and both silent and live auctions.

The Edwin A. Jaffe Award, which honors an individual or group who has exhibited an extraordinary commitment to building community and common purpose within the Berkshires, will be presented to Pignatelli during the evening.

“Ed Jaffe was a visionary and a man I admire very much,” said Pignatelli. “It is humbling to receive such a prestigious award in his name. I sought Ed’s council and wisdom in my early years as a State Representative and he and his wife Lola became dear friends.”

He added, “Between Berkshire South and the Mahaiwe, Ed and Lola have reshaped the South Berkshires for the better for us all, now and for the next generation. Ed’s vision for Berkshire South as a regional community center that brings generations together for the common good with an emphasis on community building and joy has come true by the wonderful work of the Berkshire South Community leadership and staff.”

Pignatelli is being celebrated for his tireless efforts supporting the educational, cultural, business, and social activities that make ours such a distinguished community. Pignatelli is a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives the 4th Berkshire District, serving in his eighth term representing 20 communities in Berkshire and Hampden Counties. Smitty was named after his father’s best friend, William Smith, who was killed during World War II.

Pignatelli was first elected to the Lenox Planning Board in 1987 and served on that board for five years. In 1992, he was elected to the Board of Selectmen, and was elected Chairman on four different occasions, serving until May of 2003. He also served from 1995-1999 as a Berkshire County Commissioner including two years as Chairman of the board. He is the House Chairman of the Joint Committee for the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Berkshire South’s Community, Youth and Family programming.

Berkshire South is a nonprofit community based organization which has offered quality services and programs to the Southern Berkshires since opening the doors in July, 2002. Their mission is to create a sense of community and common purpose throughout the region and to enhance the recreational, educational, cultural, health & social well-being of the residents of the southern Berkshires.

You can get more details including admission information by going here

For additional questions please contact gala@berkshiresouth.org or 413.528.0397.

(press release sent to WSBS from Berkshire South Regional Community Center for online and on-air use) 

Image: Smitty Pignatelli (center) with Relay for Life's Ray Gardino (far left), WSBS' Mike Garland (right) and WSBS' Jesse Stewart (far right) from September, 2017

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