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A recent $10,000 award from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation to Project Just Because will help provide local low-income families with school supplies and holiday items, according to Steven M. Sousa, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MutualOne Bank and a Foundation trustee.

The gift will support the Project Just Because Back to School initiative, which provides children with a backpack filled with school supplies, and its Holiday Wish List program, which distributes basic cold-weather necessities and small gift items to families in need. According to Cherylann Lambert Walsh, founder and president of Project Just Because, 2,000 students received backpacks last year and 15,000 Holiday Wish List packets were distributed.

“The need is far greater than most of us realize,” said Sousa. “MutualOne is pleased to help provide support for those in the communities we serve who are facing serious life challenges.”

 

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The MutualOne Charitable Foundation has awarded $5,000 to support the Mazie Mentoring Program at Framingham High School. Announcement of the award was made today by Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a Foundation trustee.

The Mazie Mentoring Program, run by the John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, works with youth who face steep odds against realizing their potential. It provides the support and motivation they need to succeed in school and beyond.

According to Haranas, the Foundation’s donation is earmarked for the purchase of laptop computers awarded to student mentees who reach the program’s college research milestone.

“The mentoring program has a history of success in helping youth at risk continue their education and set and achieve their personal goals,” Haranas stated. “The MutualOne Charitable Foundation is pleased to help offset the cost of the laptops and software students in the program receive as a reward for their determination to succeed.”

Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee, has announced a $5,000 grant from the Foundation to Homeowner Options for Massachusetts Elders (H.O.M.E.) to help aging MetroWest residents remain in their homes.

H.O.M.E. assists those in the elder homeowner population who are experiencing difficulties and facing threats to their ability to age in place in their homes and communities. The problems addressed range from mortgage and property tax foreclosures, healthcare costs, and home adaptations and repairs to debt management and resource and income budgeting.

“The number of needy elders requesting H.O.M.E. services in increasing,” said Haranas. “We are proud to play a role in providing the counseling, economic literacy, and prevention initiatives they need to maintain their living arrangements.”

A recent $8,400 grant from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation is helping the Framingham Police Department put three “Safety Ambassador” interns to work in the community this summer. Announcement of the award was made today by Steven M. Sousa, MutualOne Bank executive vice president and chief operating officer and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee.

According to Framingham Police Chief Kenneth Ferguson, the interns will provide the department with “insight and support to improve the efficiency of crime reporting” in the downtown area. They will also provide a variety of services to improve the downtown atmosphere, including reporting on problem areas, connecting with the homeless, and serving as an additional public safety resource at sponsored events. The program was designed with support from Framingham Downtown Renaissance, Ferguson said, with the focus on a safe and healthy downtown community.

“We are pleased to provide the Framingham Police Department with the financial support they need to put this intern program in place,” said Sousa. “It is another approach to community outreach and will help support the move toward downtown revitalization and development.”

Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee, announced today that the Foundation has awarded $3,000 to Parents Association of the Handicapped (PATH), the Natick Recreation and Parks Department, and Camp Arrowhead to provide camperships for families requiring financial assistance.

Located in Natick on the shore of Lake Cochituate, Camp Arrowhead serves local children and adults with a variety of special needs through a six-week summer social and physical recreation day camp and a one-week residential camp in New Hampshire.

“The Foundation is pleased to offer its support to the professionals and trained volunteers who have kept this program up and running successfully for more than 55 years for the benefit of so many families and individuals in our community,” said Haranas.