The Wayland-based Parmenter Foundation celebrated “70 Years of Giving” on May 18, raising $75,000 to benefit MetroWest neighbors in need.
Parmenter supports nonprofits in the areas of health care and hospice services, including such grantees as the Miriam Boyd Hospice Residence, MetroWest Free Medical Program, and Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest; children’s programs, including such grantees as Camp Erin Boston, HEARTplay, and Camp Casco; and community support, including such grantees as the Parmenter Food Pantry and Family Promise MetroWest.
“I want to thank those who have been a part of our success, and the success of our fundraising event,” said Michael Halloran of Weston, executive director of the Parmenter Foundation. “Thank you to our donors, many of whom have supported Parmenter for more than a decade.
“Without your continued support, we simply cannot provide for all the programs and initiatives we help fund. We are very proud of the work we, along with our partners and volunteers, have done to date, helping the most vulnerable in our neighborhoods. We look forward to being a staple in the MetroWest community for another 70 years and more.”
The Parmenter Foundation seeks to help neighbors throughout the MetroWest area and ensure they have access to good health care. That is why the foundation continues to support the MetroWest Free Medical Program (http://metrowestfreemedicalprogram.org), with locations in Framingham and Sudbury, which provides for the uninsured and underinsured in our community.
For Kim Prendergast of Sudbury, executive director of the MetroWest Free Medical Program, she understands how challenging it is for many to get the health care they need.
“There are thousands of individuals who lack access to health insurance coverage, and they lack access to care,” said Prendergast. “Just because one has health insurance doesn’t mean they can find a doctor who takes that specific insurance. We are also filling a critical need of helping people whose first language may not be English. It’s wonderful to offer medical interpreter services and know that everyone is getting the care they need and they understand how they are being helped.”
The Parmenter Foundation also celebrates and strives to support innovative programs that help the most vulnerable in our community. The foundation was inspired by Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest’s creation of a more efficient mental health referral line (844-528-6800) so more of our neighbors can access the help they need.
For Anne Pelletier Parker, executive director of Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest (bhpmw.info), she is intimately aware of the importance of helping neighbors in need.
“It is pretty well known that it takes three to six months for someone in need to schedule a mental health appointment. The referral line has been able to shorten that timeline to four to six weeks for most of their callers. Without the support of the Parmenter Foundation, people would be back to looking for services on their own and delaying getting the help they need.”
The honorary chair for the event, Dan Shaughnessy, sports columnist for The Boston Globe, helped kick off the evening, sharing uplifting personal stories of Red Sox great Ted Williams, and inspiring guests to give to support the foundation. Also part of the festivities was Jimmy Tingle, comedian, activist and founder of Humor for Humanity, who shared his brand of fun and laughter, leading the Spotlight Pledge, calling on guests to open their wallets and give to the foundation.
