The MutualOne Charitable Foundation has awarded $5,000 to Junior Achievement of Northern New England to support financial literacy, business education, and work force readiness programs for students at Bennett-Hemenway, Memorial, and Brown elementary schools in Natick. Announcement of the award was made by Foundation Chairman Robert P. Lamprey.

Trained Junior Achievement volunteers from the local business community lead classroom sessions in the life skills education program. All programs are provided at no cost to schools and after school youth organizations. The volunteers include MutualOne Bank’s Bill Eastty, vice president, residential lending.

“Teaching youth the basics of economics and personal finance today can provide them with a solid foundation for their future,” said Lamprey. “We are pleased to support the efforts of Junior Achievement to make that happen.”