Since it was established in 1998, the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation has donated over $1.4 million to community causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.

Spectators attending events at Framingham’s Loring Arena may be more comfortable in the future, with the help of a $10,000 award made recently by the Charitable Foundation.

According to Robert P. Lamprey, Foundation chairman, the $10,000 grant was made to the Framingham Parks and Recreation Commission, which is responsible for the Town-owned facility. In his funding request, Parks and Recreation Director Robert Merusi said that soaring energy costs have made it impossible to use traditional heating methods to keep the building at a comfortable temperature for patrons.

The most recent round of Foundation grants approached nearly $50,000, according to Lamprey.

Award recipients included United Way of Tri-County, which received $15,000. The sum of $6,500 was awarded to MetroWest Legal Services, which provides free, civil legal representation to local low-income residents. Advocates, Inc. received $2,000 in support of programs and services for people with disabilities.

The Foundation’s $5,000 award to Framingham Adult ESL will help that group continue its free English language instruction and life-skills training programs for local individuals from a variety of backgrounds, allowing them to fully participate in work and social activities in the community.

A donation of $3,200 from the Foundation to the St. Tarcisius School will help with classroom improvements, and its $3,000 gift will fund the Edwin Alexis Marin Memorial Scholarships awarded to several Framingham High School Latino graduating seniors each May.