NEWS RELEASE

Matheny Employee Runs for Those Who Can’t

October 29, 2024, Peapack, NJ – Julia Halsey, Exhibits and Collections Coordinator for Matheny’s Arts Access Program, is getting ready to run in her first New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3. Halsey is raising funds for an organization called ADAPT Community Network, an NYC-based nonprofit that provides important programs, services, and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Halsey works full time with artists in the Arts Access program at Matheny. Arts Access offers programming in the fine, performing, and literary arts. Using systems and techniques specifically designed for each discipline, clients can create pieces of work that are distinctly their own. The program improves the quality of life for the artists and those around them, and aids in changing the perception about the capabilities and talents of people with developmental disabilities.

Halsey joined Matheny in 2021 after moving to New Jersey from her hometown of Southampton, New York. “Matheny is such a special place to work,” she says. “I have a background in art history, and after seeing the phenomenal work coming out of the program, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It’s been an honor getting to know these talented individuals through their art.”

Halsey began training for the marathon in July, and has been running a minimum of 45 miles a week ever since. Her running journey started in 2020 when looking for ways to stay active during the pandemic. Since then, Halsey has run thousands of miles to prepare to cross the finish line at the NYC Marathon, a goal she never imagined possible just four years ago.

It wasn’t enough for Halsey to just run the marathon – she wanted to run for a cause. When an opportunity arose to fundraise for ADAPT Community Network, she knew it was the perfect fit.  “Working at Matheny, I see firsthand how empowering our programs are for our clients,” she says. “I wanted to support an organization that aligns with our mission.”

With only 9 days left until the marathon, Halsey is already thinking about the next one. “This won’t be my last race,” she says. “I hope to be able to support Matheny in the next one! Consider supporting Halsey and ADAPT Community Network at fundraisers.hakuapp.com/julia-halsey or donate directly to Matheny in her honor.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Julia Halsey adds to her thousands of miles run.

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..

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 34^th 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.

We’re still riding high from Miles for Matheny 2024! Our community put on their Matheny green and joined us for a day of music, games, and fun.

There were some changes to the annual celebration this year. We brought the event to our hilltop campus and threw a BBQ for all attendees, added an obstacle course to our popular Kids Fun Run, kicked off the morning with a picturesque Trail Run and Fitness Walk, and designed an indoor/outdoor route for our beloved Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk. We appreciated everyone’s enthusiastic participation in these new ideas, and we hope you had as much fun as we did.

Check out the photo album below (thanks to our photographer, the talented Keith Bratcher). See you next year!

The works of five talented Matheny artists will be showcased in a new exhibit at the renowned Sotheby’s in New York City. Paintings by Jessica Evans, Bari Kim Goldrosen, Karen Frascella, Paul Santo, and Tammy Heppner will be featured in “Art Without Boundaries.” A portion of the exhibit will be devoted to “Rising Artists” – a display of other talented artists creating art in many forms in Matheny’s Arts Access program. The exhibit reveals the variety of works, multitude of subjects, and the diversity of media used to create these stunning pieces. The exhibit will run from March 29^th through April 7^th at Sotheby’s 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY location.

Eileen Murray, Director of the Arts Access Program, said, “We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talents of artists with disabilities once again at Sotheby’s NYC. Their return to this prestigious stage is a testament to the power of creativity that lies within these outstanding artists. We are thrilled to see these remarkable individuals rightfully bask in the spotlight, demonstrating that creativity knows no bounds. Thank you, Sotheby’s, for recognizing and celebrating their exceptional contributions.”

Matheny previously collaborated with Sotheby’s in 2019 for an exhibit titled “The Art of Choice.”

Arts Access’ multidisciplinary program offers specialized systems of communication and assistance for individuals with disabilities that enable them to freely express themselves in the arts. Instead of defining those participating in Arts Access by their disabilities, Arts Access enables participants to define themselves by their accomplishments. Assisted by professional artist-facilitators, the artists use specialized systems, methodologies, and assistive technology that have been designed to enable individuals across the full spectrum of disability to clearly communicate their ideas. To learn more, go to artsaccessprogram.org.

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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 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.

About Sotheby’s. Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

This exhibition is a part of Sotheby’s Community Gallery initiative, where we partner with mission-driven organizations to spotlight artists and creatives. We firmly believe in the transformative power of art and culture, and are committed to making the art and luxury industries more inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative. We hope this space inspires you to consider how you define community, and expand the ways you see yourself and others.

On Tuesday, September 12th, the Matheny community gathered with friends, family, and loved ones to enjoy the 2023 Fall Formal! Everyone posed for photos, showed off their dance moves and Disney-themed outfits, and enjoyed one another’s company. Thank you to all the staff, family, and volunteers who made such a lovely night possible!

The Matheny School Provides Complex Solutions for Medically Complex Students

August 22, 2023 – Peapack, NJ – New Jersey students will return to school in just a few days. Back to school can be stressful for anyone, but for kids with special needs finding the right school environment is essential. The Matheny School, located on the picturesque campus of Matheny in Peapack, has provided a blend of high quality therapeutic and educational services for students from all areas of New Jersey with medically complex developmental disabilities for over 75 years.

Anne Bruno, the Matheny School’s Assistant Principal, stated “Our students have many different learning styles and educational needs. Each student’s team addresses all of his or her requirements. Therapies such as physical, occupational and speech are integrated into the student’s educational routine. Many therapies are delivered right in the classroom, minimizing the amount of classroom time the student misses,” she added.

The Matheny School also provides skilled nursing care via their school nursing team.  According to Bruno, “Many parents are struggling to find 1:1 nursing care in schools and Matheny has excellent school nurses dedicated to providing care to our students during the school day so they can attend class with their peers.”

Technology is fully utilized within the Matheny School. Students have access to iPads, computers, Smart technology and individualized augmentative devices. Staffing is maintained at a high level to ensure that each student can reach his or her maximum potential.

Recent events have focused attention on the critical issue of safe transportation of all students. Those who need to be transported while seated in their wheelchair or on a stretcher are especially vulnerable. The utmost care is taken to ensure every student’s safety and comfort.  Matheny’s dedicated school and transportation teams will be presenting a webinar on safe transportation practices at 2 pm on September 13^th.  Please go to Matheny.org for more information or to register.

The Matheny School offers year-round enrollment for all NJ school districts and an extended school year program during the summer. For more information, please visit matheny.org, call 908-234-0011, or email mathenyschool@matheny.org.

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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 501(c)3 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 is comprised of a fully accredited special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, the Matheny School – a non-profit private special school, The Arts Access Program – an award-winning fine arts program, and outpatient clinics serving the community. 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. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

It’s been over six weeks since Miles for Matheny 2023, but we’re still riding high on the joy and fun of the beautiful celebration! Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, cyclists, runners, families, and everyone else who made the event possible.

See an event highlight reel here.

Did you see John Elliott from CBS2 News at the Fairgrounds? We loved sharing our Matheny Magic with John and all those who watched that morning! Catch his coverage of the event here.

Our full event album is below. Please join us in thanking our photographer, the talented Keith Bratcher!

June 13, 2023, Peapack, NJ – Matheny is pleased to introduce Michael Hewson as its new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Mr. Hewson will work closely with President and CEO Bill Kent, Matheny’s Board of Trustees, and senior administrators to oversee and coordinate all financial operations across the various components of Matheny, including the medical center, school, community residences, adult day program, and Arts Access program.

“We extend a warm welcome to Michael Hewson as he joins the Matheny community,” says Bill Kent, President and CEO of Matheny. “We are confident in his ability to develop and implement comprehensive financial strategies, including annual and long-term financial planning, budgeting, cash flow projections, and debt management. His contributions will be invaluable in ensuring the continued financial health and success of Matheny,” Kent added.

Hewson brings with him over 20 years of experience in both corporate and non-profit environments. Most recently, he served as the Director of Business and Operations at the Willow School in Gladstone, NJ. During his time at Willow, Hewson implemented financial changes, managed operational and facilities improvements, and successfully led major software implementations in finance, student information systems, and enrollment management. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Gillen Brewer School, where he skillfully navigated the challenges posed by the global pandemic, ensuring the safety of students and staff.

Before joining Gillen Brewer, Hewson held the position of Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at Rutgers University. In this capacity, he oversaw the administration and strategic vision of a division comprising 250 professional and administrative staff. This division provided crucial support to 36,000 undergraduate students in areas such as finance and administration, information technology, facilities, enrichment, career services, marketing and communications, assessment, disability services, learning centers, and access and equity programs.

Hewson’s extensive experience at institutions such as Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Morgan Stanley, AXA Equitable, Credit Suisse, and Columbia Records has equipped him with a wealth of knowledge to lead the long-term financial planning at Matheny. He holds degrees in Philosophy, Journalism, Mass Media from Rutgers University, and he earned his MBA from the same institution in 2014. Additionally, he attended the Management and Leadership Institute at Harvard University in 2017.

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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 501(c)3 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 is comprised of a fully accredited special hospital, five community group homes, an adult day center, a non-profit private special school, a fine arts program, and outpatient clinics serving the community. 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. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.

Thank you to all who have already registered for our 26th Annual Miles for Matheny! There’s still time to register and join us on Saturday, June 3rd!

At Miles for Matheny, you can choose from one of five different cycling routes (specially designed by our friends the Bedminster Flyers), our USATF-sanctioned 5K, a high-energy Kids Fun Run, or our beloved and traditional Wheelchair Walk.

Know a friend who likes to cycle or run and would resonate with our mission? Spread the word!

Start or join a fundraising team here.

See the Miles 2023 schedule here.

Feel free to reach out to milesformatheny@matheny.org with any questions!

Interested in joining the Matheny Team? We invite you to campus to learn more about our open positions. We’re excited to meet you!

Halloween landed on a Monday in 2022, but that certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of those participating in our Matheny Halloween parade!

Highly anticipated by Matheny students and patients, the Halloween parade is an amazing reflection of our community’s passion and creativity. We were blown away by many of the costumes this year, including pirates, Ken and Barbie, Catwoman, and characters from Stranger Things, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and many other shows and movies. Which costume is your favorite?

We’re grateful to our Recreation Therapy team for their hard work coordinating this event. We can’t wait until next year!

We love our Fall and Halloween traditions here at Matheny! Thank you to all who joined us on campus today for Trunk or Treat 2022 – everyone enjoyed a very festive and fun afternoon!