Our Generous Neighbors

In November 2015, volunteers from Pfizer, one of the world’s premier biopharmaceutical companies, totally refurbished Matheny’s therapy room, replacing the sink, repairing and painting walls and trim, replacing protective wall coverings, building and installing computer tables, installing window treatments, and replacing an accordion door that is used to divide the large area.

Another group of Pfizer employees, many of whom work at the Peapack, NJ-based Pfizer facility thay is practically next door to Matheny, repaired and painted Matheny’s pole barn – a large structure that houses a woodshop and storage for equipment used by our facilities department. In June 2016, Pfizer’s summer interns – college students from around the country – did a complete makeover of Matheny’s adapted baseball field, installing pavers in the dugouts, completely resurfacing the field, and installing a beautiful new scoreboard.

Pfizer college interns completed a makeover of Matheny’s adapted baseball field.

Pfizer donated all of the resources for these projects. In addition, many Pfizer employees volunteer at Matheny throughout the year, and the company offers Matheny the use of its parking garage during our annual fundraiser and community event, Miles for Matheny.

“I love what you are doing. You have leveled the playing field in creativity by the processes you use.” That was the reaction of Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, who visited Matheny’s Arts Access Program on July 25th, along with U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance and Nick Paleologos, chair of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Rep. Lance and the NEA’s Jane Chu look at a script based on the Mortal Kombat video game being written by Arts Access artist Chris Saglimbene, right.

From left, Eileen Murray, Nick Paleologos, Jane Chu, Rep. Leonard Lance, and Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, Matheny president and CEO.

Eileen Murray, director of Arts Access,  explained the art facilitation method, emphasizing that, “every creative choice is in the hands of the artists. The facilitators never interject their personal style.” Then, Chu, Lance, and Paleologos visited with several artists and observed them at work with their facilitators. Arts Access is a unique fine arts program enabling individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts.  Lance, who is co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, concluded that, “We look to Matheny to lead the way. Keep up your fine work.”

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The investment banking company, Goldman Sachs, made Matheny part of its “Community Team Works” project several years ago through the efforts of Bernardsville, NJ, resident Pam Cembrook, who, at the time, was president of The Friends of Matheny. Her husband, John, is a Goldman Sachs executive, and he put together a team of volunteers who cheerfully weed, rake, mulch, and plant.

Goldman Sachs volunteers return every year to weed, rake, mulch, and plant in Matheny’s courtyard.

The Goldman Sachs CTW team returns to Matheny every year to refresh our courtyard and other gardens, always adding a few new touches. The company not only donates the muscle, but it also funds the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies.  Thanks, Goldman Sachs, for your continuing support!

When Shane Szott was born on February 6, 1995, in Independence, MO, he was particularly fussy and initially diagnosed with severe colic and reflux. By the time he was four or five months old, the doctors continued to say he was just developmentally delayed, but, when he reached 10 months of age, the diagnosis had changed to cerebral palsy.

Shane’s parents, Dave and Andrea Szott, first heard about Matheny from Dave’s cousin, Adam Kuehn, MD, an anatomical pathologist. The Szotts were still living in Missouri while Dave was playing football for the Kansas City Chiefs, “but when we came to visit our family in New Jersey,” Andrea Szott recalled, “we stopped by to see Matheny. I thought it was a nice school, but I also felt that maybe it wasn’t right for Shane at that time. I also believed that I would never consider a residential facility for my son.”

The Szotts moved back to New Jersey when Shane was turning five. Within a few months of the move, his diagnosis was changed to,“CP with epilepsy and autistic tendencies. He became very frustrated and non-cooperative. The stress was intense, and we started researching respite care at Matheny. We did a second night of respite within that same year, and it became clear that Matheny and its staff were well qualified and equipped to care for Shane. We then put Shane on the wait list, and, shortly afterwards, received the call that a bed had opened.”

Shane at graduation with physical therapist Glenn Stackhouse, left, and paraprofessional  Carlos Nieves.

After Shane was admitted to Matheny on December 30, 2005, the Szotts continued to have him come home to Morristown, NJ, on weekends. One Sunday evening when they were bringing him back to Matheny, “He cheered and hollered and pointed to school. I looked at him and asked in disbelief if he was happy to be back at school, and he shouted, ‘Yeah!’ and had a big smile on his face. At that point, I realized that Shane was enjoying his new environment, and that he was truly happy. The team effort at Matheny is what truly propels these children forward beyond anyone’s imagination. The therapists work with the teachers, and the teachers work with the paraprofessionals, and the paras work with the personal care assistants. And, the parents’ input is accepted and taken into consideration.  Shane still loves to come home and visit,” Szott said, “but at the end of the day, he signs, ‘All done’, and that means he’s ready to go back to his other home. He is cared for with love and patience, and his life is full and very blessed.”

Elizabeth Connolly, acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and Elizabeth M. Shea, assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities, visited  Matheny on June 30 to learn more about our Arts Access Program, which enables individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts.

During the visit, Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program, explained how artists with disabilities are assisted by professional artists, who act as their facilitators. The facilitators offer the artists a variety of choices, but, Murray emphasized, “they must remain neutral, with no preconceptions.”  Facilitators, she added, are required to go through “a stringent training process.”  The process, she said, requires a great deal of patience, and “choice is at the heart of the program. Every facilitator,” she said, “needs to be a professional artist, but not every professional artist can be a facilitator.”

From left, Elizabeth M. Shea, assistant commissioner of the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities; Elizabeth Connolly, acting commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services; and Arts Access artist Yasin Reddick.

From left, Elizabeth M. Shea, assistant commissioner, the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities; Elizabeth Connolly, acting commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services; Andrew Edge, Arts Access visual arts coordinator; Edana Desatnick, co-chair of Matheny’s Board of Trustees; and Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program.

Shea wondered if the philosophy of the Arts Access facilitation process “could be translated to choices about other things, food choices, for example.” Murray explained that, “the process is for art, but it could be used for anything.”  Connolly and Shea also toured Matheny’s hospital and school, after which Connolly concluded that, “This is a happy place.”

Art Garden CSA is a Community Supported Arts Program to connect emerging artists with disabilities and local art collectors. It is a collaboration between Matheny’s Arts Access Program and Arts Unbound, made possible by a Community Employment Grant from the Kessler Foundation.

Ten artists – five from Arts Access and five from Arts Unbound – were selected to participate in the program. Each artist was required to create 25 pieces of art, ranging from paintings, jewelry, small sculptures, wearable art, photography, and more. From this, 25 shares of art, each containing 10 pieces of art and selling for $500, were offered for sale to art collectors.

Sherry Maklary, a resident of Long Valley, NJ, picked up her Art Garden share and met Arts Access/Art Garden artists Ellen Kane, left, and Cindy Shanks. They are in front of Kane’s “The Moving”, left, and Shanks’ “I Cannot Look Back”.

Vincent Barba, Matheny vp of patient safety, and his wife, Theresa, picked up their Art Garden share and spent some time with Arts Access/Art Garden artists Jess Evans and James Lane.

On Sunday, June 26, the first “pickup” event was held at Matheny’s Robert Schonhorn Arts Center, and several of the share purchasers came to claim their artwork and to meet the artists.  Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program, expressed, “a huge thank you to the Kessler Foundation. They made this happen.”  Art Garden, she added, “was the seed of an idea by Celene Ryan, Arts Unbound director of artist development.”  Then, Murray introduced the Arts Access artists, and Ryan recognized the Arts Unbound artists.

What started out as a routine volunteer activity by some employees from Home Depot stores in Bridgewater, NJ, has developed into a solid, long-term partnership between the home improvement chain and  Matheny.

Home Depot employees have built planters for The Matheny School science class . . . Raked and cleaned Matheny’s nature trail and ball field . . . Laid pavers in front of Matheny’s main entrance to create a visiting spot for parents and friends . . . Donated needed materials for other projects.

The relationship rose to a new level when Rich Aaron, an employee in one of the Bridgewater stores, approached his mother, Chris Aaron, who handles commercial materials dispatch and orders for Parsippany, NJ-based Tilcon New Jersey, a company that specializes in asphalt paving. Rich wanted to know if Tilcon would consider paving the 1,100-foot nature trail at Matheny.  The trail has existed for years, but it had deteriorated, and the rough terrain made it inaccessible for Matheny’s students and patients, most of whom are in wheelchairs.  The answer from Tilcon was, “yes”, and on Friday, June 24, a large crew of workers from Tilcon and Home Depot arrived early in the morning to complete the task.

Tilcon, said Joshua S. Benson, the company’s general manager, public relations/government affairs, “is proud to have been a part of this project, working closely with the Matheny School and The Home Depot. Repairing and improving the damage to the nature trail highlights Tilcon’s commitment to our community and its safe environment. We are pleased that the students will again be able to enjoy the nature trail for years to come.”

Larry Thornton, a resident of Pottersville, NJ, a member of Matheny’s Board of Trustees, and a regular volunteer at Matheny, first reached out to Bridgewater store managers John M. Pingitore and Jeff Pemberton a couple of years ago. “Words cannot express,” he said, “how all of us feel about the great works done by these two wonderful companies.”

Matheny student Jacob Rolaf, assisted by personal care assistant Joan Marshall, left, and Tilcon’s Chris Aaron, right, cut the ribbon celebrating completion of the newly paved nature trail.

From left, Joshua Benson; Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, Matheny president and CEO; and Larry Thornton.

Shane Szott and his family at graduation. Dave and Andrea Szott are in the center of the back row; Shane’s brother, Josh, is seated on the left.

Savannah at graduation with, from left: her stepfather, David Levine; father, Kurtis Conrad; mother, Sarah Levine; brother, Jack Conrad; sister, Avery Conrad; and aunt, Amy Giddon.

Matheny, said Dave Szott, is “a special place, a place of incredible passion and vision.” Szott, a former professional football player, is director of player development for the New York Jets, but he is also the father of Shane Szott, one of two graduates this year from The Matheny School. And, he was the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony, held June 21.

The two graduates were Shane, son of Dave and his wife, Andrea Szott, of Morristown, NJ, and Savannah Conrad, daughter of Sarah Conrad of Westfield, NJ, and Kurtis Conrad of North Plainfield, NJ. William Muller, mayor of Peapack-Gladstone, expressed special appreciation for the Matheny staff and congratulated the graduates “on behalf of the borough of Peapack-Gladstone. We wish you continued success.” Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, president and CEO of Matheny thanked the teachers, therapists, and personal care assistants and pointed out that, “the education process will not stop,” as the students transition into Matheny’s adult services program.

On Tuesday, September 27, The Matheny School will hold a golf tournament to fund communication through technology for its students – children with multiple disabilities. The tournament will be held at the Oak Hill Golf Club in Milford, NJ, beginning at 11 a.m. with registration and a shot gun start.

Former football players from the NFL Alumni group will be golfing and socializing with participants at lunch and dinner. Cost is $175 per person or $650 for a foursome.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information or to register, call 908 234-0011, ext. 239, or email mathenyschool@matheny.org. The Oak Hill Golf Club is located at 15 Fernwood Road in Milford.

Joseph Larena, RN, with preschool student Joshua Rincon

The Matheny School was one of 10 schools in the state of New Jersey to receive an Innovations in Special Education award from the New Jersey School Boards Association. The award was for Matheny’s ‘Peace of Mind’ preschool program, which embeds a registered nurse into the classroom at all times.” The goal, says Sean Murphy, principal and director of The Matheny School, is, “to provide the safest possible environment so that the children can achieve their maximum potential. We decided that parents and families need that extra peace of mind when sending their preschooler into school. This is often the parents’ first time away from their children.”

The preschool registered nurse, Joseph Larena, is focused on the educational as well as the medical needs of the children. Being an in-class nurse, he says, “provides me with the unique opportunity to truly know each child. This allows me to instantly identify and respond to issues that may arise and prevent certain complications from occurring.”

Since 2002, the NJSBA and ASAH, the association serving the private special education community, have sponsored the Innovations in Special Education program to recognize best practices in public school districts and private special education schools. For more information on Matheny’s Peace of Mind preschool program, email mathenyschool@matheny.org or call 908 234-0011, ext. 721.

Arts Access artist Michael Martin was awarded a 2016 Kids for Kids Fine Arts Scholarship by Chatham, NJ-based Dance Innovations. The scholarship, presented on May 25, is given to individuals with special needs to help them pursue their interest in the arts.

Michael is one of the most prolific visual artists in the Arts Access Program, a unique fine arts program that enables individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts. Dance Innovations is a studio for dance and the performing arts. Its dance students often perform for the students and patients at Matheny.

Michael Martin and Arts Access dance facilitator Heather Williams at the awards ceremony.

Michael Martin with his parents, Alan and Linda Martin.

“I can’t thank The Friends enough for their generosity and hard work.” Those were the words of Matheny president and CEO, Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, after Linda Horton, manager of The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance thrift shop, and Liz Geraghty, president of The Friends, presented him with a symbolic $150,000 check, representing funds donated this year by The Friends to support programs and services that benefit the students and patients at Matheny.

From left, Linda Horton, Liz Geraghty, Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD

The Friends of Matheny officers and board members for 2016-17. From left: Andrea Szott, Dorothy Carter, Nancy Hojnacki, Kathy Sisto (incoming president), Linda Horton, Liz Geraghty, Doris Burman, Edana Desatnick, Kim Caniano, and Jean Wadsworth.

As Horton explained, “The staff members at Matheny produce a wish list of things not covered by Medicaid or insurance. We look at the wish list and decide. We choose how the money is used.” One way the money from last year will be used is to fund a trip to Disney World for four Matheny residents. Sean Bielefeldt, director of recreation therapy, thanked The Friends, “for making this happen. We’re taking four patients to the happiest place on earth for six days and five nights. It wouldn’t be possible without your support.”

After serving as Friends president for four years, Geraghty will be succeeded by Kathy Sisto. Dr. Sprott thanked Geraghty for her leadership. “She has been a very important, steady leader,” he said. He also thanked Horton for continuing to be “the CEO of the thrift shop.” Since their beginnings in 1983, The Friends have raised more than $3 million.