MutualOne Foundation Awards $5,000 Grant for Sensory Playground

Photo (submitted): Observing the MutualOne Charitable Foundation’s recent $5,000 grant in support of the new sensory playground at the Brandon Residential Treatment Center’s Natick campus are: (l to r) Rachel Berry, MSW, Brandon’s chief operations officer; Marie Harrington, branch manager, MutualOne Bank–Natick; and Rachel Stewart, Foundation administrative director. Young Brandon students helped hold the celebratory check marking the occasion.

The MutualOne Charitable Foundation awarded $5,000 to the Brandon Residential Treatment Center in support of a specialized sensory playground planned at its Natick campus, said Robert P. Lamprey, chair of the Foundation in a press release.

The Brandon Residential Treatment Center works with 200 youth at locations in Natick, Framingham, and Ashland each year, providing care, supervision, support, and special education services.

Designed for youth who have sensory integration issues stemming from trauma and mental health conditions, the sensory playground is an extension of Brandon’s “Come to Your Senses” initiative.

According to Rebecca Ferri, development officer, program emphasis on sensory integration for treatment of trauma and mental health issues is very innovative. The playground project will be a pillar of the sensory program at Brandon, she added.

“The MutualOne Charitable Foundation is pleased to contribute to a program focused on providing at-risk youth with the skills they need to succeed alongside their peers as productive members of the community,” said Lamprey.

“It means so much to Brandon that Natick’s MutualOne Foundation is so invested in the care and support of children served here,” said Rachel Berry, MSW, Brandon’s chief operations officer. “Many of our boys struggle significantly with healthy coping skills, success in school and the community, and sensory processing issues as a result of mental health diagnoses and learning disabilities.

“The new, state of the art, sensory playground will be an integral new tool for our many students to better manage their senses, emotions, and behaviors. Brandon thanks MutualOne for their integral partnership on this project, and for helping Brandon boys feel supported by their community.”

Brandon student Jayden, 9, said “I like all of it. Everything is mine. I’m so glad it’s in my yard.” Ten-year-old Leon said that “the rock wall and swings” are his favorites in the new playground.

The grant to the Brandon Residential Treatment Center was among awards totaling $63,375 in the MutualOne Charitable Foundation’s most recent round of funding.

Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has donated more than $2.8 million to charitable, educational, and civic initiatives that improve and enhance the quality of life in Framingham, Natick, and surrounding communities.