Mark R. Haranas, president and CEO of MutualOne Bank and trustee of the MutualOne Charitable Foundation, announced today that the Foundation has awarded $5,000 to Friends of Literacy Unlimited, Inc.

Literacy Unlimited is a free program of the Framingham public libraries that trains volunteer tutors to teach adult learners in English as a second language, citizenship, and GED preparation, as well as reading, writing and math for English speakers.

The Foundation’s award will support the program’s Life Resource Project, an initiative to collect information of topics of practical concern to students, such as how to get a driver’s license, pass the citizenship test, register a child for school, get health care, find housing, and prepare their taxes. The Project will organize information in a way that is easily accessible to Literacy Unlimited staff for offering assistance to tutors and students.

“Teaching local residents who have limited English skills how to manage their lives successfully is a critical step in building a stronger community,” said Haranas. “We are pleased to support Friends of Literacy in their efforts to help make that happen.”

The MutualOne Charitable Foundation recently awarded a grant in the amount of $10,000 to Framingham’s Callahan Center.

“The Callahan Center is a wonderful source of engagement, education, and enjoyment for local seniors,” said Foundation Chairman Robert P. Lamprey. “This gift to the Center will support new initiatives that will further broaden the Center’s reach in the community.”

L to R: Clyde Dottin, Vice Chair of the Framingham Council on Aging; Grace O’Donnell, Director of the Framingham Callahan Center; Clint Knight, Chairman of the Framingham Council on Aging; Rachel Stewart, Administrative Director of the MutualOne Bank Charitable Foundation; Leo Cantin, President of the Friends of Callahan; Mark Haranas, President & CEO of MutualOne Bank and Trustee of the MutualOne Charitable Foundation; and Robert Merusi, Director of Framingham Parks & Recreation.

A $5,000 grant from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation to the Natick Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) will help assure eligible local residents continued access to free and discounted prescription drugs through the VNA’s MetroWest Meds program.

Since its inception in 2004, the free MetroWest Meds program has served over 2,900 clients of all ages and has saved them over $4.4 million in prescription drug costs.

“People in our community who are uninsured or unable to pay for prescribed medications benefit greatly from this program,” said Robert P. Lamprey, chairman of the MutualOne Charitable Foundation. He noted that the Foundation has supported the MetroWest Meds initiative annually since 2009, and has awarded VNA grants totaling $35,000 over the past seven years.

The Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly’s Shillman House in Framingham has received an award of $5,000 from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation, according to Foundation Chairman Robert P. Lamprey.

The funds will be used to sustain a comprehensive fitness and wellness program that helps older adults improve flexibility, mobility, balance, physical and mental health, self-image, and cognitive abilities.

“The MutualOne Charitable Foundation realizes how important it is to help the seniors of our community age with dignity and high quality of life,” said Lamprey. “We are happy to support those goals.”

The Foundation has provided a total of $12,500 in support of Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly initiatives over the past three years. The Shillman House grant was among the 19 awards made in the Foundation’s most recent round of funding, which totaled nearly $93,000.

Four local non-profit organizations feeding the homeless and the hungry have received a total of $25,000 from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation. The grants were announced today by Steven M. Sousa, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee.

A Place to Turn in Natick received a $10,000 grant from the Foundation. Awards of $5,000 each were distributed to the Pearl St. Cupboard & Café, the Salvation Army, and St. Bridget’s Food Pantry, all in Framingham.

“Hopefully, our donations will help meet the needs of local residents who are struggling to feed their families and themselves, particularly in today’s economy” said Sousa.

The food pantry grants were among the 19 awards made in the Foundation’s most recent round of funding, which totaled nearly $93,000.