Mutual One Bank Content

Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee, has announced a $10,000 award to support the efforts of the Framingham Police Department to reduce the number of unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs available for circulation in the community.

Focused initially on the Downtown/South Framingham area, the new “Knock, Talk and Toss” initiative aims to open barriers and prevent overdoses. According to Chief Kenneth Ferguson, police will create handouts highlighting the dangers of opiates and other harmful drugs, the proper way to dispose of unused drugs, and resources readily available in the community. Additionally, bilingual officers and community members will go door-to-door with these materials, to engage with residents and provide them with the opportunity to dispose of unused drugs they may have in their homes.

The campaign will be directed to approximately 19,000 residents living in an area where 60 percent of the town’s total overdoses and sudden death overdoses occurred last year. In addition to educating the public on the lethal effects of drug abuse, the introduction of medication take-back kiosks is predicted to add to the removal of at least 240 pounds of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs from circulation in the first phase of the Knock, Talk and Toss initiative. The door-to-door outreach will be expanded to other Framingham neighborhoods in the future.

“We appreciate this opportunity to partner with the police in the effort to prevent opioid abuse among our residents,’ said Haranas. “This targeted initiative is vital to the overall well-being of our community.”

Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the MutualOne Charitable Foundation, announced today that the Foundation has awarded $2,500 to the Framingham Cultural Council (FCC). The grant will augment funds received from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support FCC grants to local programs in the arts, humanities, and interpretative sciences.

According to FCC Chair Joel Winett, state funding for local FCC grants has been impacted in recent years due to state-wide budget constraints. Additional funding support from the community helps FCC increase the number and amounts of grants FCC can award, he added.

“Framingham Cultural Council grants fund a range of cultural activities, including music, dance, theater, history, storytelling, visual arts, and student field trips,” said Lamprey. “We’re happy to help support these activities at the local level.”

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Steven M. Sousa, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee, has announced a $5,000 Foundation grant to the Christa McAuliffe Charter School Foundation.

According to Sousa, the award was made to support the first year of a multi-year capacity building initiative which will include faculty workshops and the development of a strategic plan for narrowing the gap between the highest and lowest performing students.

“The McAuliffe Charter School serves a diverse student body,” said Sousa. “We are pleased to support efforts to help every student meet the school’s high standards for academic and personal success.”

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The MutualOne Charitable Foundation has awarded $10,000 to support the summer camp program at Musterfield Place, a residential development managed by the Framingham Housing Authority.

The grant will cover salary costs for four local high school and college students to staff the day camp program, according to Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee.

More than 90 children are eligible for the summer camp activities, which include outdoor and beach activities as well as computer and reading time.

“We see this as an outstanding opportunity for the youth of Musterfield Place to enjoy a quality summer program right in their own backyard,” said Haranas. “We are happy to help make that possible.”

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