The Friends of Natick Senior Center Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps raise funds to support the Senior Center, recently discovered a new friend: the MutualOne Charitable Foundation.

The foundation’s $5,000 award to the Friends will help that group support the Council on Aging in funding Senior Center programs, activities and equipment not provided for by the department’s municipal allocation.

The grant from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation was the first of its kind for the 35-year-old organization, according to Friends President Jerry Pierce.

"It is a privilege to speak for the Friends to say that the receipt of this generous gift from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation is the first in the history of our organization," Pierce said in a statement. "As such, it will be long remembered and looked upon by over 6,000 senior citizens in Natick."

The donation to the Friends of Natick Senior Center was among grants totaling $103,500 awarded by the foundation in its most recent round of funding.