The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded $2,000 to the First Baptist Church in support of its volunteer “Happy Birthday Baby” project, which provides baby care essentials for low-income mothers and pregnant teens in the greater MetroWest.

“This is an on-going mission because there are babies born to low-income families every day.   Our many volunteers have done a marvelous job creating these beautiful baskets.  We thank the volunteers and the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation for making this possible.” said Program Coordinator Lorna J. Mailhoit.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded $10,000 to the Framingham Downtown Renaissance to support the implementation of the four-point Main Street® approach for revitalization of the Downtown Framingham area by enhancing its physical appearance through rehabilitation, new construction and public improvements.

“Framingham Downtown Renaissance applauds Framingham Co-operative Bank’s continuing support for FDR and its efforts to revitalize the downtown area.  This lead gift to the Framingham Downtown Renaissance campaign is a demonstration of the pride that community-minded businesses, like Framingham Co-operative Bank  have in the developing success of downtown Framingham,” said FDR President Dr. Dale Hamel. 

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From left: Ted Welte, FDR Director, Marlene Aron, Senior Associate Broker, MetroWest Commercial Real Estate, Mark Haranas, President/CEO Framingham Co-operative Bank, Michael Semizoglou, Vice President Framingham Co-operative Bank, FDR Treasurer, Rachel Stewart, Administrative Director Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, FDR Promotion Committee member and  Dr. Dale Hamel, Vice President, Framingham State University/ FDR President.

The FCB Charitable Foundation recently awarded $2,500 to the Bethany Hill School to assist in funding the Computer Learning Program for the 99 at-risked residents.  Their educational programs include Adult educational & career counseling, Computer instruction, Parenting, Life Enrichment and Advancement Program and Youth Programs.

 “The Bethany Hill School community takes strength from your generosity and commitment to our learners.  Through the Charitable Foundation’s support, our residents will have access to technology and training critical in helping to build a stronger future for themselves and for their children.” said Executive Director Trish Appert.

Denise Kelly, Program Director/Mission Effectiveness Coordinator, Trish Appert, Executive Director and Rachel Stewart, Administrative Director Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation

For the fourth year, FCB Charitable Foundation continues to be the premier sponsor of the MetroWest Jewish Day School (MWJDS) Social Justice Initiative.

The vision of MWJDS is to inspire families to work to strengthen communal life in MetroWest.  This included helping children, families and seniors in need.  Originally launched as a  new upper grades program focusing on community service and leadership.  It has expanded the school’s annual Mitzvah Day to over 300 volunteers working on 22 different community service projects on behalf of the residents of Framingham and the greater community. “The event is a thank you to our host communities in Metrowest and a way for all of us to come together to help repair our world.” Said founder Carolyn Keller.

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Front Row:    Ms. Grossman’s fifth grade students MetroWest Jewish Day School
Second row:  Behzad Dayanim, New Head of MetroWest Jewish Day School and  Dara Grossman, fifth grade teacher and Social Justice Coordinator.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation recently awarded $2,000 to the MetroWest Free Medical Program which connects volunteer health care professionals with those who are uninsured and underinsured in the MetroWest communities. The program provides free medical care at their locations in Sudbury and Framingham. Volunteer physicians, nurses, social workers, and others provide care for acute and chronic illnesses.

“MetroWest Free Medical Program is delighted to have received this grant from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation. Your support allows us to expand our clinical services to include important health screening and health education opportunities to residents in Framingham.  Patient specific education is being offered for nutritional behavior to address the chronic disease needs of low income clients, particularly targeted at the Brazilian community.  These seminars include understanding cholesterol, stress management, the importance of exercise and cooking classes.” said Executive Director, Kim Prendergast.

A six week nutritional education program “Cooking Matters” is being taught by volunteers Chef Luiz Campos and Ruby Marques.  It includes cooking lessons and food preparation. This was one of the monthly seminars that take place at the New Life Presbyterian Church which is the largest Brazilian church in Framingham.

The Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation has donated $1,000 to Veterans Acupuncture Care (VAC) of Framingham, to help provide free acupuncture treatments for members of the local veterans’ community.

VAC is a supporting clinic of Acupuncturists Without Borders, a national organization that partners with local volunteer licensed acupuncture professionals to provide free community-style acupuncture after traumatic events, to interrupt the cycle of pain and chaos, and relieve suffering.

“With the assistance from Framingham Co-operative Bank’s Charitable Foundation, VAC has continued to offer free stress-relief acupuncture treatment to active military, veterans and their families.  We were also able to extend our free service to local Framingham first responders-firefighters, paramedics and police officers, many of whom are also veterans.” Lee says.

“Our mission is to provide ongoing care to help them heal and regain a sense of well being and wholeness, so that they, in turn, can return to their families, to civilian life, and to their communities with all the strength and dedication with which they serve their county,” said  Lee.

The free walk-in clinics are held every Saturday from 10 am to noon at St. Andrew’s Church on Maple Street in Framingham. Lee says that, according to census reports, Framingham’s veteran population alone numbers 2,500, with many more in surrounding communities.

“We are pleased to continue to support the VAC program, said Robert P. Lamprey, Chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation. It’s one way we can thank them for their service to our country.”

The donation to the Veterans Acupuncture Care MetroWest was included in the total of $68,050 awarded by the Charitable Foundation in support of community initiatives in its most recent round of funding. Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has donated over $1.8 million to charitable causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.

Nancy Devine, Vice President, Framingham Co-operative Bank and Rachel Stewart Administrative Director, Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation paid a visit to Christine Lee’s Balance and Healing Center on 64 Lexington Street and presented her with a check for $1,000 to help provide free acupuncture treatments for members of the local veterans’ and first responders’ community.

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced the awarding of college scholarships totaling $18,000 to six 2011 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 Leigh Nicoll, Framingham High School; Chris Cortez, Marian High School; and Geraldine Cortez, Joseph P. Keefe Technical School.

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 Marina Iturralde, Karla Guardado and Ariel Toledo.

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

Golden Tones chorus, a 60-voice group of retired people who love to sing, performed at the Framingham Co-operative Bank’s Customer “Thank You” week as a token of their appreciation for sponsorship from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation.

“We’re a local non-profit organization, using music to reach out to people and brighten their day,” said Deborah Marion, Golden Tones Director.  “What better way to thank the Bank for supporting us than to fill their lobby with singers, instruments, and dancers, during their own Thank You week?”

Now in its twenty-third season, the Golden Tones chorus provides enriching entertainment for senior citizen facilities, schools, faith communities and public events.  Its members are men and women of retirement age who sing and dance to lift spirits, have fun, and promote health and social engagement to benefit underserved audiences.  The program has been recognized as a Best Practice in the Creativity and Aging study sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, and featured on CNN’s ‘Accent Health” Series, showing the significant and measurable health benefits that seniors derive from live music

 The Charitable Foundation’s award to support the Golden Tones was included in the total of $68,050 awarded to support community initiatives in the most recent round of funding. Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has donated over $1.8 million to charitable causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.

The Golden Tones Chorus

For the eighth straight year, the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded the sum of $10,000 to support the out-of-school programs offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest at its Pearl Street Clubhouse in Framingham.

“We are thankful for Framingham Co-operative Bank’s long term support of the programs at our Framingham Clubhouse.” said Fran Hurley, President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest. “Their investment helps our kids reach their full potential through our Power Hour Homework program, SMART Kids programming Keystone & Torch Clubs and our summer camp.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest, the Framingham Clubhouse, has over 1000 registered members and provides social, educational, physical and cultural programming for an average of 185 local youth each day. The target population for the Pearl Street Clubhouse is boys and girls ages 6-17 years, with a specific emphasis on ensuring access to affordable and quality out-of-school programming for children and youth from low- to moderate-income circumstances.

The donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs was included in the total of $68,050 awarded by the Charitable Foundation in support of community initiatives in its most recent round of funding. Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has donated over $1.8 million to charitable causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.

From left: Mark Haranas , CEO and President, Framingham Co-operative Bank, Robert Lamprey, Chairman of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation joined the youngsters at the Framingham Pearl Street Clubhouse for a game of foosball.

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the board of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation, announced the foundation has recently awarded a grant of $5,000 to The Natick Visiting Nurses Association to support the MetroWest Meds Program.

Based in Natick, The Visiting Nurses Association provides vitally important home health care services to people throughout MetroWest everyday regardless of complexity of condition or ability to pay.

“The Natick VNA is very grateful for this generous gift from Framingham Co-operative Bank, in support of our MetroWest Meds Program.   Providing financial assistance to people, to pay for their medications, also helps to ensure that they are able to take their medicines as prescribed,” said CEO Judith Boyko, MS, MBA, RN.

 MetroWest Meds Program Director, Susan Moriarty, MSW said “The demands on our program have grown considerably due to the economic crisis and your help will allow us to address this increased need.  Currently, 58% of our clients come from Framingham and this assistance will ensure that they are able to fill their prescriptions as their doctor has prescribed them, avoiding more costly medical care in the future.”

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From Left: CEO Judith Boyko, MS, MBA, RN, MetroWest Meds Program Director, Susan Moriarty, MSW, Michael Bilinsky, AVP, Business Development Officer and Nancy Devine, Vice President.