It is our pleasure to share the following videos, featuring several of our Adult Day Program participants. You can watch both videos here:

Medicaid Voices Part 1

Medicaid Voices Part 2

These videos were made in conjunction with our partners at the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD) as part of their Defending the Achievement (DTA) campaign.

For more information on DTA, please see this press release.

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Matheny Medical and Educational Center Vice President to Serve on Governor-Elect Sherrill’s Transition Committee

December 1, 2025, Peapack, NJ – Vincent Barba, MD, FACHE, FACP, Matheny Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Patient Care and Safety, was named to Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill’s transition committee. Dr. Barba said, “It is an honor to serve our State and I am proud to advocate for those we serve.”

Dr. Barba has been with Matheny for more than ten years. He brings to the table leadership and extensive expertise in internal medicine, healthcare management and patient safety. During the past ten years, he has served the developmental disabilities community successfully. According to Nancy Hamstra, President and CEO of Matheny, “One of the reasons Matheny stands out as a premier healthcare organization for people with medically complex disabilities is due to Dr. Barba’s leadership. He is not only a consummate professional but also a compassionate clinician. The transition committee will benefit greatly from Dr. Barba’s participation.”

One of Dr. Barba’s most recent accomplishments is leading another successful Joint Commission accreditation survey for Matheny. Matheny’s special hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and has been for more than 30 years.

Among several professional boards, Dr. Barba currently serves on the New Jersey Hospital Association’s (NJHA) Policy Development Committee, which is advisory to the NJHA Board of Trustees. He has also served on the Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey (HRET) Board of Trustees for the past four years. HRET of NJ is a non-profit organization focused on improving healthcare quality through research, education, and quality improvement initiatives throughout NJ. HRET NJ provides continuing education, runs patient safety programs, like the Garden State Patient Safety Center, and offers programs that help NJ residents access health insurance and other services.

Nancy Hamstra added, “Advocacy efforts on behalf of the disability community have increased throughout New Jersey in recent years. Matheny leaders, including Dr. Barba, are at the forefront and they continue to work for change. There is still more work to do for a more inclusive New Jersey for people with disabilities but with Dr. Barba at the table, we have a better chance to make things better for those who need it most.”

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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 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 and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, seven community residences, two adult day centers, a non-profit private special school, and the award-winning Arts Access Program. The Matheny Arts Access program enables individuals with special needs to take part in the visual, literary, and performing arts. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

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NEWS RELEASE

August 4, 2025, Peapack, NJ – Thrifting offers countless benefits – from promoting sustainability to offering affordable options for students and others in need. A small but mighty thrift shop tucked behind a charming church in the heart of Peapack and Gladstone, NJ is making a big impact in the lives of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Known as The Second Chance Thrift Shop, this small space holds a wide variety of gently used and new items donated by neighbors and people from near and far. New Jersey Monthly Magazine named it among the best thrift shops in 2022. The Second Chance Shop is operated by The Friends of Matheny – a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs and services for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities at Matheny – a local school and special hospital.

This June, The Friends of Matheny presented a $150,000 check to Matheny to purchase brand-new furniture for the 101 residents on the Peapack campus. Since 1983, The Friends have donated more than $4.1 million in funding to support life enrichment experiences, equipment, educational supplies, and more.

“The Friends is an extraordinary group of volunteers,” said Nancy Hamstra, Matheny’s President and CEO. “Their dedication and generosity go above and beyond anything I have ever seen. The people we serve thrive and enjoy meaningful experiences thanks in large part to the volunteers at the Second Chance Thrift Shop.”

Kerry Conmy, recently elected as the president of The Friends, thanked the outgoing president, Debi DeLorenzo, saying, “I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of such an incredible leader like Debi and I look forward to working with our amazing volunteers at The Shop. Words cannot fully describe the incredible work of The Friends board members and Shop volunteers.” Kerry’s son, Patrick, is a resident at Matheny and she is also the founder of Patrick’s Pals, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with disabilities in the US and Costa Rica.

The Second Chance Shop is located at 4 Church Road, Peapack and Gladstone, NJ. The store is open on Mondays from 10am to 5pm, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Donations of new and gently used items are accepted on Mondays with the exception of large furniture donations due to limited space. To become a member, volunteer, and donate to the Friends of Matheny, go to: https://friendsofmatheny.org/.

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Photo Caption (l-r): Nancy Hamstra, Matheny President and CEO; Debi DeLorenzo, The Friends of Matheny former President; Paul Frascella, Matheny Board of Trustees Chair; Kerry Conmy, The Friends of Matheny President; Dr. Vincent Barba, Matheny Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; and Brenda Patnick, Friends of Matheny Vice President.

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 and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, seven community residences, two adult day centers, a non-profit private special school, and the award-winning Arts Access Program. The Matheny Arts Access program enables individuals with special needs to take part in the visual, literary, and performing arts. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

The post A Small Thrift Store in a Small Town Makes a Big Impact appeared first on Matheny | Special Needs Hospital & School in New Jersey.

Our recent graduation program included wonderful speeches from Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, keynote speaker Lindsay Fulop, salutatorian Brent, and valedictorian Ryan. All encouraged the graduates to be confident and brave as they embark on the next adventures in their lives, and reminded them to be proud of all they have accomplished already. There were also many words of thanks to the people who helped students along the way – family members, teachers, aides, therapists, and other Matheny School staff members. We are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated School team who are so committed to student success.

Here’s to the graduates – there’s a bright future ahead!

Congratulations to the class of 2025, and thank you to all who helped put together a beautiful celebration for our graduates. See the photo album below, and please join us in thanking photographer Keith Bratcher (Twelve09 Photography).

The post Graduation 2025 appeared first on Matheny | Special Needs Hospital & School in New Jersey.

A little rain wasn’t enough to dampen our spirits at Miles for Matheny 2025! Thank you to all the students, residents, staff, families, friends, sponsors, vendors, and community partners who made this beautiful celebration possible. Teamwork powers our Matheny Magic!

Check out the photo album below. Our main event photographer this year was Tizazu Alamrew, with some additional photos from Aimee Hunnewell and Heather Williams. Thank you all for capturing these beautiful moments!

We hope to see you for next year’s celebration!

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April 30, 2025, Peapack, NJ

From May 8-11, paintings by talented Arts Access artists will be exhibited alongside hundreds of contemporary artists at 157B 1st Street, located in Jersey City’s vibrant Powerhouse Arts District. This inaugural appearance at Art Fair 14C provides an invaluable opportunity to highlight the unique voices of artists with disabilities within the contemporary art scene.

The Matheny Arts Access Program is dedicated to empowering artists with disabilities by providing the tools, materials, and professional support to create, market, and sell their work. Through its innovative programming, Arts Access removes obstacles to artistic expression and fosters creative independence for individuals with special needs.

“We’re always looking for new ways to elevate and expand the visibility of our artists,” said Julia Halsey, Outreach and Events Manag8-11 at 157B 1st Street in Jersey City, NJ. Tickets and additional fair details are available at www.artfair14c.com.

For more information about the Matheny Arts Access Program, please visit www.artsaccessprogram.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram @mathenyartsaccess.

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