The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded more than $46,000 to a variety of local organizations for programs and services to benefit the community. Announcement of the awards was made today by Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Charitable Foundation.

The Foundation’s award of $10,000 to the MetroWest Jewish Day School will help that organization develop a community social justice program for students, families and seniors in need.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of MetroWest was awarded $10,000 to continue the expansion and enhancement of program offerings at the new Framingham Clubhouse at 154 Pearl Street.

A $10,000 gift from the Charitable Foundation to the MetroWest YMCA will contribute to the expansion and renovation of facilities to better support the health, education and recreational needs of children, families and adults living and working in the MetroWest community.

The sum of $10,000 was granted for the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly’s Shillman House Campaign in Framingham. The project will provide 150 low, moderate and market-level apartments for seniors of all backgrounds. The property is under development on Edmunds Road in Framingham.

The Ashland Education Foundation will receive $3,072 from the Foundation for four classroom computers for students and teachers at the David Mindess School.

A Suitable Image received a $2,500 grant in support of its Clothing Distribution program for low-income men and women, helping them make a successful transition into the workforce.  

A $1,000 donation was made to the Association of Small Foundations, an organization that guides small foundations in optimizing their contributions and making a difference with their grant-making activities.

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced today the awarding of college scholarships totaling $19,000 to seven 2008 graduates of Framingham’s three high schools.

Three of the scholarships, in the amount of $5,000 each, were established in 2005 to honor the memory of Roland J. Bunnell II, a past trustee of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation. Mr. Bunnell was also a member of the Framingham Co-operative Bank board of directors and senior vice president at the time of his death in 2004. He had served the Bank for more than 15 years.

The Bunnell Memorial Scholarship recipients were Rajni Salhotra, Framingham High School; Neil Rodrigues, Marian High School; and Francine Garnier, Joseph P. Keefe Technical School.

The Charitable Foundation also funded four $1,000 awards made through the Edwin Alexis Marin Memorial Scholarship program at Framingham High School. The Scholarships are named for a student who died in a car accident following his sophomore year at Framingham High. The program encourages Latino students at the High School to continue on to college, by providing one means of financial support.

Recipients of the Edwin Alexis Marin scholarships were Luis Antonio Alvarez, Jennifer Gonzalez, Jocelyn Morales, and Lucas Nader.

“By investing in the education of today’s youth, we are hopeful that they will be among those who give back in ways that will further strengthen the fabric of our community in years to come,” said Lamprey.

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, May 7, 2008 … The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded over $45,000 in support of programs and initiatives sponsored by 11 local organizations. Announcement of the awards was made today by Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Charitable Foundation.

A grant of $10,000 was awarded to MetroWest Outreach Connection to support that organization’s mission to prevent homelessness and to assist those who are homeless in their pursuit of permanent housing.

The Charitable Foundation’s donation of $5,000 to the MetroWest ESL Fund will support English as a Second Language classes at Framingham Adult ESL. A $5,000 award to the McAuliffe Regional Charter School will help augment field experience and project-based learning for the school’s 275 students.

A $5,000 grant to South Middlesex Legal Services (SMLS) will assist that organization in providing legal advice and representation to hundreds of residents in the greater MetroWest area who have serious civil legal problems and nowhere else to turn. The funding will also support a new SMLS initiative, The KidsCare Connection Project, designed to identify and create a comprehensive plan for children whose medical, dental and/or mental health needs are not being met.

Marian High School was awarded $5,000 by the Charitable Foundation to help replace student desks that have been in use since the school opened in 1956. Nearly 300 of the original desks have been replaced over the past two years; approximately 200 are still in need of replacement, according to Sr. Catherine Clifford, principal of Marian High.

The sum of $5,000 was contributed to the 14th Annual Big Top Bash, an event underwritten each year by Ken’s Foods of Marlborough in support of Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a nonprofit residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Bethany Hill School in Framingham received a $2,500 grant from the Charitable Foundation to support newsletters produced for residents and for donors. Advocates, Inc. received $2,500 to help send two individuals with developmental disabilities to a national conference on self-empowerment.

The sum of $2,000 was awarded to GreenUp, Inc. of Framingham toward the cost of GreenUp Day activities in the Town on May 3. The Framingham Co-operative Bank parking lot on Route 30 was one of five registration and drop-off locations for the event, designed to eliminate trash from local streets, parks and neighborhoods.

The Charitable Foundation’s donation of $2,000 will help fund the “Happy Birthday Baby” program at Framingham’s First Baptist Church, which distributes baby care packages to local low-income and teen mothers of newborns. Eighth graders at Framingham’s Fuller Middle School were treated to a special performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” thanks to a $1,060 grant from the Charitable Foundation.

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, January 7, 2008 … Robert P. Lamprey, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank, announced today that the Bank’s Charitable Foundation has awarded $20,000 to the Framingham Fire Department for the purchase of six portable Masimo Rad-57 detection devices that can accurately measure an individual’s carbon monoxide level in a matter of seconds.

Framingham will be one of the first communities in the state to carry the non-invasive carbon monoxide meters on fire apparatus. The handheld detectors will allow firefighters to triage on site when carbon monoxide gas is present or suspected, said Assistant Fire Chief John Magri.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly, and it can also have long-term effects if it goes undetected,” said Magri. “The Rad-57 devices will allow us to diagnose the level of exposure right at the scene and provide early intervention and early treatment.

“Traditionally, testing carbon monoxide levels in humans is a long and painful emergency room process, involving the removal of blood from an artery and waiting for lab results,” explained Magri. “The Rad-57 detectors measure carbon monoxide levels quickly and painlessly, using a finger sensor.”

The new Rad-57 detectors will also be used to routinely measure the carbon monoxide levels of firefighters, who are frequently exposed to toxic fumes in the line of duty.

“Not only are massive levels of carbon monoxide present at fire scenes, but also during the overhaul or clean up phase of a fire,” said Magri. “The Rad-57 will allow us to monitor levels in on duty personnel which will prevent the long-term health affects associated with prolonged exposure.”

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no color, taste or odor. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, it is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. Early symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. These flu-like symptoms often prevent victims from seeking immediate medical care.

“Thanks to the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, we now have the potential of preventing carbon monoxide-related deaths or illnesses here in our community,” said Magri.

Close to 150 Framingham Fire Department members will receive in-service training in the use of the new equipment next week. Personnel from the Hopkinton Fire Department, which recently purchased Masimo Rad-57 units for its three ambulances, will also participate in the training at Framingham Fire Headquarters.

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, October 22, 2007 … The Framingham Police Department and Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation  co-sponsored a free safety skills Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday, October 20th.

Designed for youngsters aged 6 to 10, the Bicycle Rodeo took place at Framingham‘s Tercentennial Park. Young riders received bicycle safety instruction, then practiced their new skills on the Rodeo course.

“Knowing how to ride their bicycles right is an important lesson for our children,” said Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank  Charitable Foundation. “We were pleased to work with the Framingham Police Department to promote safety skills in a friendly, fun environment like the Bicycle Rodeo.”

Rodeo Activities
Police officers guided children on their bicycles through a number of interactive safety experiences including Demon Driveway, Who’s There and Dodge ‘em Drive.

Kids also had a chance to win a brand new bicycle donated by Ski Market in Framingham, and a Ski Market representative was on hand to identify potential maintenance problems and show youngsters how to check and care for their bikes. Members of the Framingham Police Auxiliary provided child fingerprinting.

There were also demonstrations and tours of the Fire Safety House that was donated by the Charitable Foundation to the Framingham Fire Department last year.

Free Bicycle Helmets
Free bicycle helmets and safety kits were available to youngsters in attendance at the Rodeo.

“A properly fitted bicycle helmet can significantly reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury,” said Framingham Police Chief Steven Carl. “Massachusetts law requires any child 16 or younger to wear an approved helmet on a public way, bike path or on any other public right-of-way.

“But it makes good sense that a child on a bicycle should always wear a helmet, even in his or her own driveway.”

Police Sergeant Robert Downing, head of the department’s Bicycle Patrol Unit, and officers Chris Langmeyer and Robert Sibilio arranged the Bicycle Rodeo events, under the direction of Chief Carl. The officers are certified instructors for the International Police Mountain Bike Association, and train police officers and public safety cyclists from across the country and around the world.

New Mountain Bikes
Four brand new Volcanic mountain bikes donated to the Bicycle Patrol Unit last month by the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation were on display at the Rodeo. The sturdy patrol bikes are manufactured exclusively for security, military, emergency medical response and law enforcement use.

The Bicycle Patrol Unit maintains a six-bicycle fleet and operates day and night year-round, weather permitting, providing on- and off-road coverage that bridges the gap between police vehicles and foot patrol. The utilization of mountain bicycles is one of the fastest growing trends in law enforcement and emergency medical response.

“Police bicycles are an urban police tool, designed for industrial use,” said  Chief  Carl. “The officers in the Unit provide effective, visible and accessible full-service policing in the community. Their mobility can be key in life-or-death situations.”

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation’s $10,000 grant to the Bicycle Patrol Unit provided for the purchase of the four mountain bikes complete with light/siren equipment, bike bags, and first-aid kits; special police bike jackets; and a bike maintenance tool kit. It also covered the purchase of  youth bike helmets and additional bike safety materials for youngsters.

A second annual Bicycle Rodeo is scheduled for late spring or early summer 2008.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation was established by the Bank in 1998 to support charitable, educational and civic purposes within the greater Framingham area.

Framingham Co-operative Bank, a state-chartered institution established in 1889, has full-service offices at 828 Concord Street and One Lincoln Street in Framingham. The Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF).

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, July 11, 2007 … Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced today that the Foundation has awarded more than $46,000 to support charitable groups and programs that benefit the community.

A grant of $10,000 was awarded to the Salvation Army’s Daily Bread Program. “Although the bread, pastries, and sometimes produce come to us at no cost through the generosity of several retail establishments, the processing of these goods comes at considerable expense,” said Salvation Army Major Mark A. Himes in his application. The Foundation’s donation, he added, will enable the organization to get the product from the retailers to the hands of those in need.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest also received a $10,000 award from the Charitable Foundation. The funds will help the Clubs continue the expansion of programs to include children as young as six years old, and enhance the summer and fall after-school programming at the Framingham Clubhouse. The Club serves young people from the communities of Framingham, Marlborough and Hudson, providing youth development, education, prevention, social athletic and recreation programs to almost 3,200 at-risk children and teens. The Foundation awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs a similar $10,000 grant in 2006.

Preserving History
An $8,000 award in support of the “Campaign for the Common” initiative of the Framingham Historical Society and Museum will help galvanize the community around the importance of preserving the Town’s history. The Society’s effort to increase membership and donations will provide the infrastructure for a planned capital campaign. The Charitable Foundation’s gift will fund web site enhancements, including the addition of an online museum shop, and the introduction of a new series of Arts and Culture events, beginning in the fall.

The Danforth Museum of Art will use its grant of $7,500 from the Foundation to help fund a multi-cultural program offering free museum admission on Saturday mornings, with related family tours and art activities provided by a bilingual teacher.

The Future Skills Institute of the Metro South West Regional Employment Board received $5,000 from the Charitable Foundation, to fund a five-week work-readiness and skills-development summer program for 23 low-income Framingham high school students. The program is based on the state Department of Education’s Work-Based Learning Plan, designed to drive learning and employment productivity.

Help for Seniors
Local seniors will benefit from the Foundation’s gift to BayPath Elder Services in the amount of $2,500. The funds will be used to support a BayPath program offering  low-income seniors assistance in managing their day-to-day finances.

A $2,628 donation to the Ashland Education Foundation will allow that organization to acquire two laptop computers for its mobile computer lab for students at the Ashland Middle School.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation was established by the Bank in 1998 to support charitable, educational and civic purposes within the greater Framingham area.

Framingham Co-operative Bank, a state-chartered institution established in 1889, has full-service offices at 828 Concord Street and One Lincoln Street in Framingham. The Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF).

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, April 25, 2007 … Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced today that the Foundation recently awarded over $31,000 to a variety of community initiatives and benevolent causes.
An award of $5,000 was made to assist in the fundraising efforts of the MetroWest ESL program, including sponsorship of Crossroads Community Foundation’s “Coming to America” annual dinner. The Foundation’s donation will also support English as a Second Language classes at Framingham Adult ESL.

St. Tarcisius School in Framingham received a contribution of $5,000 to help fund a new student/staff Technology Center slated to open in the 2007/2008 school year.

A $7,500 grant to South Middlesex Legal Services will help that organization continue to provide legal advice and representation to hundreds of residents in the greater MetroWest area who have serious civil legal problems and nowhere else to turn.

Casa Myrna Vazquez received $5,000 from the Charitable Foundation to provide needed funding for its SafeLink hotline, a statewide service that is accessed by more than 21,000 domestic violence victims each year, including many from MetroWest.

The Foundation’s award of $2,500 will aid A Suitable Image in providing appropriate work-related wardrobes, at no cost, to low-income disadvantaged women who are re-entering the job market, helping them transition into the workforce and attain economic self-sufficiency.

The Performing Arts Center of MetroWest was awarded $3,220 to help underwrite “Free Lessons Day.” The program offers local children free introductory access to many of the organization’s educational programs, and provides financial assistance in cases of demonstrated need. A $980 grant to the Joseph P. Keefe Technical School will bring a live performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Shakespeare Now! Theater Company to the school stage, to complement grade nine studies in the English Language Arts curriculum.

The Charitable Foundation’s donation of $2,000 will help fund the “Happy Birthday Baby” program at Framingham’s First Baptist Church, which distributes baby care packages to local low-income and teen mothers of newborns.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation was established by the Bank in 1998 to support charitable, educational and civic purposes within the greater Framingham area.

Framingham Co-operative Bank is a state-chartered institution established in 1889. The Bank has full-service offices in Framingham at 828 Concord Street and One Lincoln Street and a Loan Center at 160 Cochituate Road, and offers online banking services at framinghambank.com. The Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF).

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, January 5, 2007 … Robert P. Lamprey, president, announced today that the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation will award three scholarships to local graduating high school seniors to honor the memory of Roland J. Bunnell II, a past Foundation trustee.
Mr. Bunnell was also a member of the Framingham Co-operative Bank board of directors and senior vice president at the time of his death in October 2004. He had served the Bank for more than 15 years.

Three $5,000 scholarships will be awarded, one each at Framingham High School, Marian High School, and the Joseph P. Keefe Technical School. Recipients will be Framingham residents who have diligently applied themselves to their studies. Other specific qualifications will be arranged in conjunction with the guidance departments of the individual schools, who will review applications and assess the qualified students before making the final selection.

The scholarship winners will be announced through the schools at awards nights in the spring.

Framingham Co-operative Bank, a state-chartered institution established in 1889, has full-service offices at 828 Concord Street and One Lincoln Street in Framingham. The Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF).

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, July 19, 2006 … Grants awarded recently by the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation and totaling nearly $44,000 will support of a number of community initiatives, according to a statement today from Robert P. Lamprey, president.
The largest grant, in the amount of $15,000, was made to United Way of Tri-County for its annual appeal.

The sum of $8,700 awarded to the Framingham High School Foundation (FHSF) will enhance the newly renovated Performing Arts Lobby at the school with the addition of two art display cases and two flat screen televisions. The additions will showcase students’ two- and three-dimensional art, according to FHSF President Kathleen Hauck.

“Displaying art in this space shows that the Town and the school value art as a part of education and quality of life,” she said in her grant application. “It is a school committee goal to increase opportunities for all students to participate in and view art as a part of their lives and education. Creating this art-filled space serves that goal.”

The Natick Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) received $5,000 from the Charitable Foundation to help support expansion of a home telemonitoring program which enables nurses and physicians to track patients’ progress and identify and react to possible warning signs. Judith Boyko, CEO of Natick VNA, said that although the program is just over a year old, it has already proved to help patients remain healthy in their homes and significantly reduced hospitalization rates and emergency room visits.

The McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School’s “Reach for the Future” campaign received a grant of $5,000. With a goal of $150,000, the campaign is designed to support the School as it transitions to a new budgeting initiative following cuts in State public education funding.

A grant of $5,000 was awarded to MetroWest Outreach Connection to support that organization’s mission to prevent homelessness and to assist those who are homeless in their pursuit of permanent housing.

Project Just Because received a grant of $5,000 to assist in the continued growth of ongoing projects that provide basic necessities, clothing, furniture and other items to people of fixed and limited financial means in the MetroWest area.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation was established by the Bank in 1998 to support charitable, educational and civic purposes within the greater Framingham area.

Framingham Co-operative Bank, a state-chartered institution established in 1889, has full-service offices at 828 Concord Street and One Lincoln Street in Framingham. The Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF).