Mutual One Bank Content

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.

 

Youngsters living at the Framingham Housing Authority’s Musterfield Place family residences will have more to do this summer, thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation.

The Foundation award will help fund the salaries of a summer staff for the on-site recreation and outdoor play camp program that was started by the Housing Authority five years ago.

According to Stephen G. Keane, executive director of the Framingham Housing Authority, last year’s program for the Musterfield community was supported by a grant from the Attorney General’s office. There is no open grant opportunity from the state this year, he said.

“The program provides supervised outdoor recreation opportunity for youngsters who might otherwise be glued to a computer or television screen all day,” said Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee. “The Musterfield recreation program is a viable and valuable alternative to screen time. We’re pleased to help guarantee that it will be available to the residents and their families again this year.”

The MutualOne Charitable Foundation has awarded $2,500 to the Framingham Cultural Council (FCC), a nonprofit organization supporting local activities and programs in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.

Partnering with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, FCC provides annual grants to individuals, schools, and cultural organizations with the goal of improving the quality of life for all residents and contributing to the economic vitality of the community. FCC supports a broad range of activities, including music, dance, theater, history, storytelling, visual arts, and school field trips.

“Our donation to the Framingham Cultural Council will help augment the funds it receives from the state and the support from others in our community who realize the value of the program,” said Steven M. Sousa, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee. “The more we all invest in our community, the greater the return will be.”