On Saturday, June 16, on a sunny June morning, runners, bicyclers and walkers gathered at Big Elm Brewing in Sheffield, MA for the 2nd Annual “Hopped Up for Health” event to raise funds for free healthcare at VIM Berkshires.

Participants enjoyed free beer crafted by Big Elm Brewing, prizes and food from Sky View Farm and Barrington Bagel Co. and snacks provided by Covestro.

Sponsored by: The Donald C. McGraw Foundation, The Elizabeth and Robert L.W. McGraw Foundation and Black Rock Foundation; Lee Bank

Other sponsors: Ed Herrington, Inc., Adams Community Bank, Autobahn Service, Baba Louie’s Sourdough Pizza, Canyon Ranch, Carlson Propane

It was a fun and festive night of gambling, dancing, and feasting for all to enjoy. The sold-out crowd enjoyed “A Night in Havana” and honored Jane Salamon, a veteran fund-raiser and Board member at VIM.

You can still honor Jane Salamon, and make a donation to keep this vital free healthcare facility operating to serve those around us who need this support. Call VIM at 413-528-4014 or go to the Donate button above.

Enjoy some photos from the evening. (Photos by Sarah Kenyon).

VIM Berkshires Annual Chef’s Dinner

Vicki Bonnington (left) and Annie Selke (right)

VIM Berkshires Annual Chef’s Dinner – an Elegant Affair

On  May 22nd, loyal supporters of VIM donned their finest and gathered at the beautiful Wheatleigh Estate for live music, drinks and a sumptuous dinner.

The evening was hosted by Vicki Bonnington and Annie Selke. Robin & Buzz McGraw and the Black Rock Foundation as well as the Annie Selke Companies sponsored the event. Music was provided by Swing Theory. The fabulous dinner was created by Executive Chef Jeffrey Thompson and his staff.

Enjoy more photos of the evening here.

The glittering evening offered exceptional hors d’oeuvres, drinks by Berkshire Mountain Distillers and Big Elm Brewing, greetings of friends and colleagues, the thrilling music of The Wanda Houston Band, and an opportunity to try your luck at blackjack for prizes and the good feelings of promoting the VIM mission.

Ilana Steinhauer, Director of Medical Services, and long-time Board Member and Volunteer Physician Jeffrey Blake shared compelling stories of the impact of VIM on the community and the important role the organization plays in caring for the uninsured and underinsured. Steinhauer told the audience:  “I am also one of the luckiest people I know.  Every morning I get to walk into VIM.  And there it is, every single day … it is a realization of hope, hope that exists only because of you. You are the change makers. You are the ones standing up for an ideal, improving the lives of others, and, thus, sending forth further ripples of hope. And these ripples are spreading.”

Arthur Peisner, Chair of the Board of Trustees, greeted the audience and shared news of the expansion completed in the past year.  Art noted “Our patients, staff and volunteers are so grateful for the wonderful new facilities you have helped us to provide.  With your continued generosity we will be serving the needs of our community for years to come.”

Next up was the inspiring auction, featuring trips, dinners and spa pleasures. Members of the audience proved exceptionally generous in bidding for these items, as well as providing support during the Service Auction for VIM’s newly expanded comprehensive health and wellness programs.

An outstanding and delectable dinner followed (catered by Rita Welch with wine by Domaney’s Liquors and Fine Wines), with dancing to Wanda Houston and her band.

THE EVENING WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS, WITH MORE THAN $100,000 RAISED TO SUPPORT THE ESSENTAIL AND MUCH NEEDED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE BERKSHIRES.

Kudos to our fearless Gala Committee Chairwoman Patricia Hubbard for her guidance and inspiration.

Kudos also to the committee members who brought all the elements of a successful evening together:

Alice Lustig

Barbara Seideman

Carol Solomon

Clara Londoner

Elaine Roberts

Frani Rothman

Hildi Black

Jane Salamon

Janet Schnurr

Laura Friedman

Lauren Hyde

Marion Simon

Molly Sheriff

Nancy Bernstein

Ruth Goldstein

Ruth Weinstein

Turbi Smilow

Vicki Kay

Click here for more photos from the 2016 Speakeasy Gala.

“Our Gala Chairs Hildi Black and Nancy Bernstein and their Committee did it again,” said Salamon.  “They put on a wonderful event and transformed Butternut Lodge into a beautiful Mardi Gras venue that felt like New Orleans in the Berkshires.”

The Gala is VIM’s major annual fund-raiser and was “phenomenal,” according to Board Chair Art Peisner.

“We raised more that 25% above our previous high in donations,” said Peisner.  “We were especially grateful to Elaine and Bernie Roberts whose generous donation helped us raise record funds during our Service Auction.”

Elaine and Bernie Roberts donated $100,000 in a multi-year grant for VIM Berkshires, with $50,000 designated as a “challenge grant” for this year’s Gala.  The yearly Service Auction at the Gala raises money to help pay for critical health care services for VIM patients. The Auction successfully met and even exceeded this year’s goal at the Gala.

Visit 2015 Gala gallery for more photos.

The Fabulous Chef’s Dinner committee was headed by co-chairs Vicki Bonnington, Catherine Mandel and Lauren Hyde, supported by VIM’s Director of Development, Jeffrey Bliss. Together they orchestrated a splendid gathering – this event has become a VIM Berkshires spring tradition. Prior to the dinner, guests enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the lobby while some ventured outdoors to take note of the waning evening and the fading view of distant mountains from the terrace lawn.

For more photos, visit our gallery Chefs Dinner 2015

The party provides a chance for VIM volunteers to get to know volunteers whose clinic schedules do not coincide with theirs, and to meet volunteers whose work takes place largely outside the facility itself. Volunteers from all areas of the clinic attended: board members, writers, receptionists, nurses, dental team members, doctors. We were a mix of volunteers who had been at VIM since before we opened our doors, to volunteers who have joined this year. Of course, most of our volunteers fall somewhere in between that ten-year span.

Huge thanks go to each and every one of them! Special thanks to volunteer Allan Goldstein, who cooked the delicious hams; to Domaney’s Fine Wines and Liquors for the selection of wine, and to Xicohtencatl, Bizen and Siam Square for donated food.

See the gallery for more holiday party photos.