Miss Hall's School Appoints Director of Advancement

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School has announced that Merritt Colaizzi of Williamstown has joined the school as its new director of advancement.

In her new role, Colaizzi will manage all aspects of the Miss Hall's Development Office, with responsibilities for the school's campaign, major gifts and planned giving programs, annual fund, and alumnae and parent engagement. She will also work closely with the MHS Board of Trustees and campaign volunteer leadership, and will serve as a vital member of the school's Leadership Team, reporting to Head of School Julia Heaton.

"I am very pleased to welcome Merritt to the Miss Hall's School community," Heaton said. "Merritt's experience as a fundraising professional, her natural leadership skills, and her background as a graduate of an all-girls' school make her an outstanding addition to Miss Hall's. Her talents working with individual donors, driving annual giving, and spearheading a comprehensive capital campaign add to the strength of the talented MHS Development team as we work boldly to advance the School’s ambitious goals."

With Colaizzi joining Miss Hall's, director of development and Alumnae Relations Diane Wortis will continue in that role, focusing her considerable expertise on major gift fundraising. Wortis, who joined MHS in 2008 and will report to Colaizzi, will continue to work with MHS donors in support of the school's strategic design and increasing alumnae engagement.

Colaizzi most recently served as director of development at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. During her tenure at the Clark, she also held the positions of campaign director and director of major gifts. Previously, Colaizzi held leadership positions at SmartBrief, a Washington, D.C.-based media company, and Streetmail, a digital media company based in North Adams. Additionally, she played critical roles in the Williams College Program in Leadership Studies and in Trinity College's Cultural Programs in Italy. Herself the graduate of an all-girl, K-12 education at The Ellis School, in Pittsburgh, Colaizzi earned a B.A. in Art History from Trinity College and an M.A. from the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

She will join MHS on Feb. 1.

Habitat For Humanity Modular Homes Coming to Robbins Ave.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Friday, April 11, 2025

The homes will be available for residents earning between 55 and 65 percent of the area median income. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first of two below-market modular homes arrived on the West Side on Thursday, and both are expected to be move-in ready this summer.

The other is expected next week.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is building two below-market condominiums at 112 Robbins Ave. for families earning between 55 percent and 65 percent of the area median income. Monthly costs for the three- and four-bedroom units are expected to be less than $1,500 with Habitat's subsidies.

Modulars allow for quicker construction to get more families into quality, affordable housing.

"Just because we have such an aggressive schedule this year, we are doing many modulars in addition to the stick-built that we usually do," communications manager Erin O'Brien explained.

Just this year, the nonprofit is constructing five homes in Pittsfield and 10 in Housatonic.

The two homes at 112 Robbins Ave. will come to $148,000 for a three-bedroom with the 20 percent subsidy and $156,000 for a four-bedroom. Similar homes in the Pittsfield area are valued between $225,000 and $250,000.

While prices are subject to change, the three-bedroom condo will cost owners about $1,430 per month and the four bedroom $1,495 per month, compared to renting in the city for more than $1,800 per month. Habitat noted that this provides a potential annual savings of $4,500 to $6,000, while building equity and long-term financial security.

The eligibility range between 55 percent and 65 percent AMI is said to support families who earn too much for most housing subsidies but still struggle to afford market-rate homes.