NEWS RELEASE
Friends of Matheny Donation of $125,000 Highlights the Importance of Disability Pride Month
July 17, 2024, Peapack, NJ – Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July. This year’s theme is “We Want a Life Like Yours” and marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that removed barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
The Friends of Matheny, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Matheny’s programs that enrich lives of people with disabilities. The Friends recently presented their 2024 donation of $125,000, a $25,000 increase over recent years. $100,000 of this gift has been designated to support Matheny’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) program and $25,000 will go to the Arts Access program. The Friends have also provided additional funds that will be used to support ongoing programs such as Matheny’s annual Wish List and the Student Family Support Fund. Matheny staff are invited to submit requests that will benefit their students and patients. Such items include supplies and equipment for programs and experiences and trips for patients and students – items that are not otherwise covered by Matheny’s budget. According to Aimee Hunnewell, Matheny’s Chief Development Officer, “The Friends annually grant wishes that positively impact so many lives. These programs and experiences make a lasting impression and greatly enhance the quality of life for the people we serve.”
“We were thrilled to learn of the generous $25,000 donation earmarked for Arts Access. This support will truly make a difference and their ongoing support is invaluable in helping us continue our mission of providing innovative programs and services and promoting inclusivity and creativity within our community;” says Heather Williams, Arts Access Program Director.
This year’s donation also included a $100,000 gift to Matheny’s DME Program. Sue Baumann, Director of the Rehabilitation Technology department stated, “We are very thankful to The Friends for this very generous donation! Our department focuses on client’s positioning and safety needs. Thanks to The Friends, we will be able to continue to fabricate custom positioning equipment, safeguarding equipment, and bed and wheelchair replacement covers to name a few.” She added, “We will also continue to modify sleepwear, stabilize toys and communication devices, and provide repair parts for our patients’ wheelchairs. ”
The Friends of Matheny have embraced the spirit of Disability Pride month. Their 40-year commitment and contributions to individuals with disabilities is extraordinary. “We are delighted to support Matheny and the wonderful work they do,” says Debi DeLorenzo, President of The Friends. “Our donation of $125,000 this year will be divided between two very important areas. It will help the children and adults reach their full potential and we couldn’t be happier.” Continuing their long standing tradition of supporting Matheny both financially and through volunteerism, to date, The Friends have donated over $3.5 million dollars to Matheny. Most of those funds are generated through sales of at the Second Chance Thrift Shop located at 4 Church Street, Gladstone. This award-winning thrift shop is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays year round.
*Read in the Bernardsville News here.
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Photo Captions:
Facilitation: Artist Karen Frascella selects a color for her painting with Arts Access facilitator Joe Matousek.
Dance: Teri Buschmann, TJ Christian and Kitty Lunn perform TJ’s original choreographed dance.
Rehabilitation Technologies: Tizazu Alemru customizing a wheelchair component and Christine Whitworth sewing unique and completely customized wheelchair cushions, positioning aids and more.
Friends of Matheny Check Presentation: The Friends of Matheny recently presented a check in the amount of $125,000 to Matheny. Debi DeLorenzo, President of the Friends of Matheny presented the generous donation to (left to right) Matheny Board of Trustees Co-Chair Bill Krais; Bill Kent, President and CEO of Matheny; and Matheny Board of Trustees Co-Chair Paul Frascella.
About Matheny
Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill-equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND) and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, and outpatient clinics serving the community. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.
Matheny’s Rehabilitation Technology Department provides seating and mobility services including Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Complex Rehabilitative Technology (CRT). DME and CRT include: power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, seating systems, bath equipment, positioning aids, and more, which can be individually configured for each client. The rehabilitation technology staff are trained and certified in the skills necessary to evaluate and resolve the seating and mobility needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Matheny’s on-site rehab technology shop allows technicians the ability to customize and modify equipment for each individual. Matheny’s assistive technology professionals are certified by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
The Arts Access program at Matheny provides individuals with disabilities the freedom to create in the visual, literary, and performing arts. This unique program is designed to inspire, uplift, and encourage the aspirations of artists with disabilities. Using state-of-the-art methodologies, clients are enabled to create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. In an effort to provide access to the same disciplines available to able-bodied artists, Arts Access offers courses in the visual, literary and performing arts. Using systems and techniques specifically designed for each discipline, clients can create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. On a daily basis, Arts Access fosters an environment of artistic creativity among the participating clients. The program improves the quality of life for the client artists and those around them. In addition, Arts Access programming aids in changing the perception about the capabilities and talents of people with developmental disabilities.
