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When you think of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, you probably don't think of the Great Depression.
But when you think of the crumbling chimneys on Ventfort Hall, the 19th-century mansion that's been home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for more than a century, you probably also think of the Roaring Twenties.
And that's exactly what happened to the building in Pittsfield, which was hit hard by the Great Depression, the Boston Globe reports.
According to the Berkshire Eagle, four of the six brick chimneys on the mansion's west side were knocked to the ground by falling masonry in the early 1900s.
They were later removed, but not before causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Now, thanks to a fundraising effort, four of the six brick chimneys will be up and running in time for the college's 100th anniversary in 2023, the Globe reports.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ventfort Hall's executive director tells the Globe.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing to be able to do."
According to the Eagle, Ventfort Hall was built on the site of the original Thomas Jefferson home, which was destroyed in a plane crash during the Great Depression
Selected Grant News Headlines
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
"We believe in the transformative power of AI and its potential to create positive change," says Anita Whitehead, head of impact at audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG, which this week announced an...more
It's that time of year again: the time of year when many of us crank up our air-con and head out for a dip in the pool. But what if we told you that summer is also a great time to get outside and...more
Babangida Zama is a 23-year-old college student in Kano, Nigeria. He's also the leader of the group that won the Rising Awareness Action pitch competition on Saturday, receiving a $100,000 grant...more
Foundation: Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation, one of the five largest philanthropists in the US, has come under fire in the past for its support of far-left groups. Now, however, it's back in the news for another reason:...more
"Politics is like a quilt formed of hundreds of patches that come together, creating security and strength," Michael Mantha writes in the Sault Star. "I know from experience that great things can...more
Naomi Evans Stotts was born in Nebraska to a family of six and grew up in Loveland, Colo., where she attended school and worked at a library for 25 years. She died peacefully in her sleep last...more
Foundation: Nathan Cummings Foundation
A billionaire's foundation is investing all of its assets in companies that have a " measurable and beneficial social or environmental impact," the New York Times reports. Nathan Cummings, a...more
One in four women experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and the Mary Kay Ash Foundation is doing its part to help. The cosmetics company has donated more than $57 million to domestic...more
Foundation: Philadelphia Foundation
The Foundation for Delaware County in Delaware County, Pa., has given more than $1.2 million to 57 nonprofits over the last three years. The grants will be used to "address some of Delaware...more
The first openly gay governor of a US state is officially running for office. California state controller Betty Yee announced her bid for the Democratic nomination at the CalMatters Ideas...more
Social Entrepreneurship
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Social Entrepreneurs to Get Free WiFi Access
iPass, a telecommunications provider, will give free internet access to 100 non-government organizations (NGOs) for a year as they work in dangerous countries to help its poor and underserved populations.
