MutualOne Foundation Awards $5,000 to Open Spirit Cancer Support Group

The MutualOne Charitable Foundation granted $5,000 to Open Spirit: A Place of Hope, Health & Harmony, a multi-faith, non-sectarian center under the auspices of the Edwards Church in Framingham, to help establish a free bi-weekly psychosocial cancer support group.

The new group, which will complement Open Spirit programs currently underway, is designed to help Framingham and Natick area residents living with cancer – especially the socio-economically disadvantaged – reduce distress and increase coping skills.

“Cancer can be devastating, not only to the individual, but to an entire family,” said Robert P. Lamprey, chair of the MutualOne Charitable Foundation. “We’re happy to contribute to a program designed to help those involved lessen the stress and deal more effectively with a difficult situation.”

“We are so grateful for the trust and support of MutualOne and we are excited to build relationships with area medical professionals as we develop this cancer support group,” said Dr. Deborah Clark, pastor of Edwards Church.

The Open Spirit grant was among awards totaling $63,385 made by the Foundation in its most recent round of funding. 

The MutualOne Charitable Foundation is a continuation of the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation following the 2012 merger of Framingham Co-operative Bank and Natick Federal Savings Bank.

Since it was originally established in 1998, the Foundation has donated over $2.3 million to charitable, educational, and civic initiatives that improve and enhance the quality of life in Framingham, Natick, and surrounding communities.