Donate | The Brien Center

Acute Care

Please support the Brien Center as we meet our community’s expanding need during the pandemic

Our community has never needed the Brien Center more than it has during this very difficult time. Individuals and families throughout the Berkshires, who are already coping with significant behavioral health issues, have seen their symptoms increase. We hear from new people every day who are struggling with fear, anxiety, financial insecurity, isolation and loneliness. The Brien Center is prepared to meet the expanding needs of our community.

Our staff has been nothing short of heroic. The pandemic has dramatically changed the way we deliver services, yet our skilled and compassionate clinicians and staff have barely missed a beat. Except for emergencies, when face-to-face care is required, our client and family meetings now take place by phone and video. People are learning strategies to keep their anxieties in perspective, strengthen their resilience, and continue their recoveries.

Continuing our mission in the midst of a pandemic has required unanticipated expenses. For example, the Brien Center has purchased dozens of laptops to enable video conferencing with clients and families. In addition, we’ve invested in a great deal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to maintain the safety of our caregivers. Brien Center employees are among an extraordinary group of essential workers in the Berkshires who are caring for the emotional health and wellbeing of our residents during a very difficult time..

We know that people want to help. Many are wondering what they can do to assist friends and neighbors as they weather the emotional devastation caused by this pandemic. Please consider a generous donation to the Brien Center.

We hope that you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe.

Thank You

Please Support the Brien Center

Your donation enables us to provide high-quality care to nearly 10,000
people in our community every year – including almost 4,000 children – regardless
of their ability to pay. In fact, the Brien Center provides approximately $200,000 in free or subsidized care annually.

At least one in every four Berkshire families has received treatment and services from Brien Center programs. Our average client is a parent with a job. He or she may live in your neighborhood or work at your business. For many of our clients, mental illness and/or addiction
interrupted what had been very typical Berkshire County lives. Our clients include:

Children who are experiencing emotional distress and behavioral issues, often as a result of trauma and abuse in their families.
Adolescents who are involved with substance misuse – a serious and growing epidemic in our community.
Parents who are recovering from addiction and are rebuilding their lives and their families through Brien Center counseling, rehabilitation and
housing programs.
People of all ages who are experiencing a mental health crisis and who need assistance right away.

We never deny services to anyone in our community who needs our help.

The Brien Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide behavioral health and addiction treatment and services to residents of Berkshire County.

Ways to Give

Online:

Mail a check to:

The Brien Center
Attn: Development Department
PO Box 4219
Pittsfield, MA 01202

Please make checks payable to “The Brien Center”

Give a Gift to the General Fund

An unrestricted gift to The Brien Center’s general fund enables our leadership staff to apply your gift towards the day-to-day operating expenses of running our agency.

Give a Restricted Gift

A restricted gift can be made to support a specific program or service of your choice. Please note on your check or online donation form which program or service you wish to support.

Make a Memorial or Honorary Gift

A memorial or honorary gift is a thoughtful way to mark a special occasion or to honor the memory of a relative or friend. To make a memorial or honorary gift, send your contribution (along with acknowledgment information so we can notify the recipient or family) to The Brien Center’s Development Office at the address above. The person honored (or their next of kin) will be notified of your kindness.

Donate via Your Workplace

Workplace giving is easy. Every pay period, a portion of your check, in any amount you decide, is automatically deducted. Check with your employer to find out if they offer an employee matching program. With such a match, the impact of your donation can be that much greater.

Planned Giving

Planned giving to the charity of your choice is arranged at the time of estate planning and is a viable option for donors at all income levels. From a donor’s perspective, planned giving is attractive for many reasons. It may allow you to make larger gifts than you otherwise could at the present time. Depending on how the planned gift is set up, it may also let you receive a stream of income for life, earn higher investment yield, or reduce your capital gains or estate taxes. The most common types of planned giving vehicles are gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, charitable bequests and beneficiary designations. Please consider a planned gift today and support The Brien Center for years to come! If you have questions about planned giving, consult with your attorney and/or accountant, or call our Development Department at the number below.

The Brien Center is a member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest.

For further information, please contact us at 413-629-1272.