Current Grantees
The Parmenter Foundation provides support for nonprofit organizations, based in MetroWest, that offer innovative and compassionate programs in the areas of end of life and palliative care, bereavement for all ages and caring for the caregivers.
For more information about the grantees listed below, please click on their logos.
The Parmenter Foundation supports a partnership created by four long-standing local behavioral health service agencies to create a mental health referral line. The Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest provides a centralized point of entry for coordination of services including, housing, food, and employment for MetroWest families coping with grief and mental health issues. This referral line is different from others in two important ways. First, most of the callers are provided with care from one of the four member agencies and therefore are provided with quality care quickly. Second, a caseworker will follow the client from the time of the call until a permanent care provider match is made.
The Parmenter Foundation supports an unfunded hospice bed at the Parlin House Hospice Residence at little or no cost for those who cannot pay. The private room cost is often prohibitive for families whose loved one needs an out-of-home hospice placement. The Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence affords loved ones a comfortable, serene and high quality end-of life place when they are unable to be at home.
The Parmenter Foundation supports a children’s bereavement summer camp provided at no cost to their families. This camp serves 60 or more children every summer. Children who attend the three-day camp enjoy traditional camp activities along with therapeutic sessions. The children benefit from the sharing, compassion and support of one another, from trained professionals and from the many volunteers required for a successful camp experience.
The Parmenter Foundation supports an award-winning creative arts grief program for bereaved children, teens and young adults. This program serves 109 MetroWest children annually. Facilitated by trained grief therapists, children and their families receive high quality grief support to help them better cope and be more resilient. Volunteer teen mentors play a large role in drawing children out and comforting them as well. Finally, the participant children are a wonderful source of comfort and strength for one another.
The Parmenter Foundation supports Jeff’s Place with a COVID-19 Crisis Response Grant so that it can continue to seamlessly provide free bereavement care – for grieving children, teens, young adults and their families – with enhanced existing and new programming during quarantine and beyond.
The Parmenter Foundation supports Why Me, Inc. a grass roots nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support services to families experiencing childhood cancer from the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout every step of his/her treatment and beyond. In particular, Parmenter funds the Circle of Healing Bereavement Retreat held each year to help parents who have lost their child to cancer understand that bereavement is a journey that takes years to unfold.
Parmenter supports Wildflower with a COVID-19 Crisis Response Grant so that it can provide enrichment opportunities and support to children who have experienced the loss of a parent, as well as support for the surviving parent.
Cycle 1 Grants Awarded June, 2020
The Parmenter Foundation supports Camp Casco, a week-long day camp and a week-long overnight camp for childhood cancer patients and survivors at no cost to their families. This grant is used to fund a new part-time Program Director position. The Program Director position is critical to Camp Casco’s continued success and growth as the director oversees the family services, including planning and execution of several week-long sessions, family social events, clinic visits and communications with families. In addition, the Program Director supports more than 75 committed volunteers, all of whom play an essential role in the quality family outreach and camp experiences that Camp Casco families have the opportunity to participate in year-round.
The Parmenter Foundation supports Dignity Matters’ efforts to aid local homeless and disadvantaged women and girls to stay healthy, regain self-confidence, continue working and to attend school. Dignity Matters collects, purchases and supplies feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear to these women and girls who are in need.
The Parmenter Foundation supports the Domestic Violence Services Network’s new program: IMAGINE. While DVSN provides many and varied direct services to victims of domestic abuse, IMAGINE targets the needs of its highest risk victims. For both small groups and individuals, this program includes tailored education and support in such areas as financial literacy, legal assistance, and employment skills.
The Parmenter Foundation supports health education to uninsured patients at their Sudbury free clinic with the goal of improving health behaviors and, ultimately, health status. With over 250 volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, health educators and more, the MetroWest Free Medical Program serves over 1,000 patients per year with over 1,500 medical visits. These patients receive quality and compassionate preventative, diagnostic and acute medical care.
The Parmenter Foundation supports Open Table’s mission to address hunger in our local community by providing healthy food, in a welcoming environment, while respecting the dignity of those served. Open Table is comprised of generous volunteers who distribute approximately 7000 pounds of food and serve 250 meals each week. The organization is a vital resource for food-insecure individuals hailing from MetroWest and beyond.
My Brother’s Table operated by Good Shepherd Parish provisions more than 5,000 meals per year for Wayland residents in need. With the help of many volunteers, the food pantry provides to over 80 families each month fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, juice and non-perishable foods.