(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Bobby Sweet and the BSweet Band with special guest the Tommy Filiault Band will perform a concert to benefit Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn St. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Giving Thanks Concert ’11 is a fundraiser for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds affordable housing in partnership with qualified families in need of decent housing in central Berkshire County. The event will include a 50/50 raffle with proceeds to benefit Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. Raffle prizes include firewood, home heating oil, gas gift certificates, food gift certificates, a golf pull cart, a wine basket from Nejaime’s Wine Cellars, a Pine Cone Hill outlet gift card and a signed copy of Fresh American Spaces by Annie Selke, founder of Pine Cone Hill. Food and refreshments will be available beginning at 6 p.m. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted at the event to fill the food pantry at the First United Methodist Church.

Tickets for the show are $10 in advance/$12 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased in Pittsfield at Bagels Too, 166 North St.; Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, 70 Jefferson Place; and Wood Brothers Music in the Allendale Shopping Center. Tickets are also available at Tune Street, 294 Main Street, Great Barrington, and Mill Town Tavern, 16 Depot St., Dalton. For more information or to become a corporate or individual program sponsor for The Giving Thanks Concert ’11, call Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at 413.442.3181.

“We are thrilled that Bobby Sweet and Tommy Filiault selected Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity this year as the organization they wished to support with their annual Giving Thanks benefit performance,” said Habitat’s executive director Carolyn Valli. “It’s going to be an amazing concert and a wonderful evening — all for a great cause.”

Sweet is a sixth-generation musician who began his performing career in the Berkshires in his father’s band at age seven. Earlier this year, he returned home from his second tour with Arlo Guthrie, released his sixth solo album, and was selected as a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Contest in Kerrville, Texas. He has performed with a host of renowned country and folk artists including Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Martin Sexton, and Pete Seeger.

Dalton native Filiault has been performing throughout the Northeast since 1978, playing his 1965 Fender Stratocaster alongside music legends Otis Rush and Ed Vadas and has opened for numerous musical acts including Orleans, James Montgomery, James Cotten, Jan Pousette Dart, Rick Danko, Commander Cody, David Bromberg, and Dicky Betts.

Founded in 1992, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Community volunteers donate over 10,000 hours each year in construction, administration and management to help hard-working families obtain home ownership. To date, 24 homes have been constructed by CBHFH volunteers in Berkshire County.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity connects qualified families in need of decent housing with volunteers and community businesses to build simple, affordable homes and to restore old ones. Applicants must demonstrate need for a home and have the ability to pay a mortgage and a willingness to partner with Habitat, including investing up to 500 hours of sweat equity and participation in financial workshops and budget counseling.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity builds hope by removing barriers and creating opportunities for families living in substandard housing, empowering those who have been powerless and offering solutions to affordable housing, promoting holistic and lasting positive change that transforms lives in our community.

For more information, call Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity at 413.442.3181.