Framingham Co-operative Bank - Foundation News

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation award will help 800 local families, students

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:31:05 GMT

A Place to Turn “Healthy Learners” initiative

A $5,000 grant to A Place to Turn from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation will help improve the quantity and quality of the nonprofit’s food offerings to families in social and economic need who have school-age children.

The “Healthy Learners: Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” initiative introduced recently by A Place to Turn in Natick specifically targets those local families with school-age children served by the agency. It emphasizes food essential to a healthy diet, which in turn impacts the preparedness of students in school, according to Joanne Barry, executive director of A Place to Turn.

“Numerous studies link low income to poor nutrition and related performance issues in school,” Barry stated.

“The Charitable Foundation can appreciate the connection between a healthy diet and success in the schoolroom,” said Mark R. Haranas, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank. “We were pleased to offer our support for this particular program.”

HEALTHY CHECK – Joanne Barry (center), executive director of A Place to Turn, accepts a ceremonial check representing a $5,000 donation to the organization’s Healthy Learners program from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation. With Barry are Rachel Stewart, administrative director of the Foundation, and Steven Sousa, senior vice president of the Bank and Foundation board member.

A Place to Turn assisted over 6,000 people in fiscal 2008, and that number has increased by 15% for the current fiscal year. The organization currently serves 800 families with school-aged children. Because WIC, the federally funded nutritional supplement program, ends for families when children turn five, many families receive fewer resources and nutritional support when their children begin schooling. The “Healthy Learners: Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” initiative specifically focuses on those families, providing children with nutrition-rich foods that can lead to improved school attendance, academic performance, and the overall health of the children.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards $2,500 to A Suitable Image to help disadvantaged

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:02:19 GMT

A $2,500 gift from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation to A Suitable Image in Framingham will support that organization’s mission of helping low-income individuals successfully transition into the workforce.

The clothing distribution program provides unemployed, disadvantaged men and women with a free, suitable work-related wardrobe to help them “start over.”

According to Mark R. Haranas, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank, the award to A Suitable Image was among those made in the most recent round of funding by the Charitable Foundation, where nearly $40,000 in grants were distributed to benefit the community in a variety of ways.

WELL-SUITED — Linda Brooks (center), executive director of A Suitable Image, with Rachel Stewart, administrative director of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, and Mark R. Haranas, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank, with a ceremonial check representing the Foundation’s recent $2,500 donation to the Framingham-based nonprofit organization.

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. Throughout its 120-year history, the Bank has been consistently responsive to the needs of the community.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation Awards $10,000 to Project Just Because

Rachel Stewart — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:40:52 GMT

Mark R. Haranas, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank, announces that the Bank’s Charitable Foundation has donated $10,000 in support of programs offered by Project Just Because that serve the needs of individuals and families throughout the greater Framingham area.

Based in Hopkinton, Project Just Because activities include their own food bank; community service, hospital, domestic abuse, and career programs; services for seniors and students; and a holiday Wish List toy program.

“The Charitable Foundation’s grant to Project Just Because allows us to touch the lives of hundreds of local residents in a variety of ways,” said Haranas, “and allows us to reach many more people through one gift than we might be able to do otherwise.”

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.

JUST BECAUSE – The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded $10,000 to Project Just Because in Hopkinton, in support of programs to meet the needs of area individuals and families. Project Just Because President/Founder Cherylann Walsh, second from left, accepts a ceremonial check presented by (from left) Board and Charitable Foundation member Clem Lambert, Foundation Administrative Director Rachel Stewart, and Bank President Mark R. Haranas.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards $18,000 in scholarships to local graduates

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:04:47 GMT

According to Robert P. Lamprey, chairman, the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded college scholarships totaling $18,000 to six 2009 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 Jesse Mitchell, Framingham High School, who will be attending Northeastern University; Alisha Sparling, Marian High School, who plans to attend Stonehill College in the fall; and Catherine Griffin, Joseph P. Keefe Technical School, who will continue her education at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science.

The Charitable Foundation also funded three $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 Alma Garcia, who will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst in September to study nursing; Alexis Rivera, who will study criminal justice at Westfield State College; and Melinda Alves, who will attend Bridgewater State College, where she will major in education.

“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 Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards over $26,000 to address community needs

Rachel Stewart — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:47:07 GMT

According to Chairman Robert P. Lamprey, the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently granted more than $26,000 to benefit the community.

The largest award, in the amount of $10,000 was to the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest. The grant was made to help support the out-of-school programs at the Framingham Clubhouse on Pearl Street, which serves an average of 150 youngsters each day. In part, the Foundation’s gift will help the Boys & Girls Club keep its annual membership fee at just $25 per child per year. This is the sixth consecutive year the Club has received support from the Bank’s Charitable Foundation.

Framingham’s Joseph P. Keefe Technical School received an award in the amount of $8,495 from the Foundation for the purchase of a Point of Sale (POS) computer/register system. The state-of-the-art equipment will be used in the student-run dining room that serves as the hospitality component of the school’s Culinary Arts program, and will provide students with the technical skills necessary to compete in the industry, according to James M. Lynch, superintendent/director.

The Foundation also awarded the sum of $3,600 to the MetroWest Jewish Day School to expand community service curriculum in the classroom and expand its annual community service event, Mitzvah Day. Involving parent and community volunteers, Mitzvah Day takes place at Metrowest social service organizations, for the benefit of the entire community.

The First Baptist Church in Framingham received an award of $2,000 in support of its volunteer “Happy birthday, Baby” project, which provides baby care essentials for low-income mothers and pregnant teens in greater Metrowest. The sum of $1,000 was awarded to the Framingham Baseball League to help fund that organization’s scholarship program. An additional $1,000 was granted to the Association of Small Foundations, which provides programs, publications and resources for member organizations.

Framingham Cooperative Bank Charitable Foundation helps heat up Loring Arena, supports agencies and others

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:53:02 GMT

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.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards over $28,000 in community funding

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:54:45 GMT

$10,000 to expand successful Danforth program

Mark R. Haranas, president of Framingham Co-operative Bank, announced today that the Bank’s Charitable Foundation recently donated over $28,000 to benefit the activities of eight local non-profit organizations.

The sum of $10,000 was designated to continue and expand the Drop Into Art program at the Danforth Museum of Art. The program got underway in 2007 with an initial $10,000 donation from the Charitable Foundation. According to Katherine French, Museum director, nearly 1,500 MetroWest residents participated in the program in its first year. Each first Sunday of the month, the Museum opens its doors to children ages 5-10 and their families. The program provides free family admission, tours led by teen docents, and hands-on creative studio activities in the Museum School.

“The program has been successful beyond expectation,” said French.

Health & Legal Help
For the third consecutive year, the Foundation awarded $5,000 to the Natick Visiting Nurse Association to support its telemonitoring program, which utilizes technology to enhance home health care. Daily monitoring enables the VNA to track patients’ progress and identify possible warning signs that might require immediate attention or hospital care.

MetroWest Legal Services also received a $5,000 grant from the Charitable Foundation, toward the continued provision of free legal services to those with low-income, the elderly, and people with disabilities in our community.

Elders & Teens
This is the seventh year the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation has supported BayPath Elder Services. Its recent $2,500 donation will be used for BayPath’s Money Management Program for elders. The program currently has 62 trained money management volunteers who assist low-income elders with their day-to-day finances in order to support and prolong their independence in the community.

Samaritans, Inc. received $2,500 for its Samariteens Youth Suicide Prevention Program in Framingham. The teen program began in 1986 in Boston in response to high rates of youth suicide. Today, Samaritans has more than 100 active youth volunteers based in both Boston and Framingham who answer the 24-hour Samariteens Crisis Helpline.

Infants, Children & Families
The Charitable Foundation awarded $2,000 to the Framingham Rotary Club toward its renovation project at Butterworth Park on Bishop Street in Framingham. The Club is building a state-of-the-art playground, pavilion and tricycle/stroller path at the Park.

A $1,000 donation to the Framingham Housing Authority will help ensure that the children of local struggling families living in public housing receive a holiday gift.

A $300 award to the “Happy Birthday Baby” program of the First Baptist Church will provide baby care packages for low-income mothers and pregnant teens in the Metrowest area. Volunteers will use the donation to purchase diapers, baby clothing, and other new-baby essentials for needy mothers and their newborns.

$1.2 Million Plus
The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awarded over $200,000 to local educational, civic and charitable groups in 2008. Since it was established in 1998, it has donated over $1.2 million to community causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards over $55,000 to community organizations

Rachel Stewart — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:59:06 GMT

$10K award will help create the new ‘Framingham History Center’

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced that the Foundation recently awarded $55,550 to benefit the community and its residents.

A $10,000 award to the Framingham Historical Society and Museum will help that group introduce its new identity as The Framingham History Center to the public.

“Our new name does a better job of communicating the vibrancy, relevance and accessibility that are so important to our brand,” explained Anne R. Murphy, executive director.

According to Murphy, last year’s $8,000 gift from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation played a significant role in expanding awareness about the Framingham Historical Society and Museum, and also attracted 150 new members. The Foundation grant was used to launch a highly successful Arts and Culture Series, a web-based storefront, and a new e-newsletter.

Among the highlights of the Arts and Culture series was an exhibition of the work of the late Framingham artist Floyd Walser, and the subsequent donation of nearly 100 of the artist’s paintings, sketches and artifacts to the Society.

A grant in the amount of $15,000 was awarded to Resiliency for Life, a model alternative high school dropout-prevention program located on the Thayer campus in the Framingham school system. The program provides ongoing mentoring, tutoring, and counseling support for at-risk students.

The Charitable Foundation awarded the sum of $10,000 to the Daily Bread Program of the Salvation Army, which feeds up to 80 people five days a week. Major Mark A. Himes stated that the Daily Bread program has had to expand in order to serve an even greater volume of people today than in the past.

Project Just Because, Inc. received a grant of $10,000 from the Foundation, in support of its “Keep a Family & Child Warm Program.” The program provides those in need in greater Metrowest with warm winter coats and blankets, according to Cherylann Lambert Walsh, Project Just Because president and founder.

The sum of $6,000 awarded to the John Andrew Mazie Foundation will support that organization’s mentoring program for minority and low-income high school youth. Adult volunteers recruited from local companies are matched with underachieving Framingham High School teens. The adults serve as role models and motivate and support the teens’ educational and career goals during the student’s high school career. Forty students join the four-year program at the beginning of each new school year, says Lowell Mazie, executive director of the Mazie Foundation.

Area residents who turn to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Southern New England, a public service agency, will benefit from the Charitable Foundation’s $3,300 award in support of that organization’s work. CCCS provides financial counseling, financial education, debt management programs and housing counseling to help individuals and families resolve financial difficulties and achieve long-term financial well being.

A $1,250 donation to the Massachusetts Bankers Association Charitable Foundation will support that organization’s annual contributions to local charities and other worthwhile causes recommended by its members.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation donates over $46,000 to the community

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:56:26 GMT

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.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards $19,000 in scholarships to local graduates

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:32:16 GMT

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 Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation donates over $45,000 to the community

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:49:41 GMT

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.

$20,000 to Fire Department from Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation to detect carbon monoxide poisoning in firefighters, victims

Steve Sousa — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:04:57 GMT

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 Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation

Rachel Stewart — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:10:06 GMT

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced today that the Foundation recently awarded nearly $56,000 to support a variety of community initiatives.

Resiliency for Life, a drop-out prevention program that works to help Framingham teens stay in high school, achieve important academic goals, and prepare for college, received a gift of $15,000 from the Charitable Foundation. Saint Bridget School in Framingham was awarded $5,000 to help replace cafeteria chairs.

The Foundation’s grant of $5,000 to the Framingham Police Department will allow four individuals to attend the 2007-08 Leadership Academy: Deputy Chief Craig Davis, Deputy Chief Kenneth Ferguson, Sergeant Richard Thompson, and Mary Gianikis, director of Voices Against Violence.

In a separate award, the Charitable Foundation granted the sum of $10,000 to the Framingham Police for the purchase of four fully equipped Volcanic Police Mountain Bikes for the department’s Bicycle Patrol Unit. The sturdy patrol bikes are manufactured exclusively for security, military, emergency medical response and law enforcement use. The grant also included special police bike jackets, a bike maintenance tool kit, and the purchase of over 300 youth bike helmets and additional bike safety materials that will be used at Bicycle Rodeos co-sponsored by the police and Framingham Co-operative Bank.

A contribution of $10,000 to Project Just Because will allow the Hopkinton-based organization to continue helping those in need throughout MetroWest through a variety of programs and services.

A $5,000 grant from the Foundation will help restore and preserve the 117-foot, 80-year old steeple at First Parish in Framingham, a landmark on the Framingham Centre Common.

$3,300 was awarded to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern New England (CCCS), a public service agency that provides financial counseling, financial education, debt management programs and housing counseling to help individuals and families resolve financial difficulties and achieve long-term financial well-being.

A $1,000 donation to the Massachusetts Bankers Association Charitable Foundation will support that organization’s annual contributions to local charities and other worthwhile causes recommended by its members. The Foundation also contributed $1,000 to the Crossroads Community Foundation’s Deborah Blumer Fund for Civic Engagement.

A $500 award was made to the Harbor to the Bay AIDS ride, an annual event supporting AIDS causes, in response to a request by Holliston attorney Michael Healy, a founding director of the event.

Framingham Police, Framingham Co-operative Bank sponsor first annual Bicycle Rodeo for kids

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:02:09 GMT

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 Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards over $46,000 in community support

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:12:11 GMT

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).

Charitable Foundation awards over $31,000 to benefit the community

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:34:01 GMT

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).

Charitable Foundation Scholarships will honor memory of Roland ‘Rollie’ Bunnell

Rachel Stewart — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:18:21 GMT

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 Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation awards nearly $44,000 to benefit the community

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:20:20 GMT

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).