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).