First Chance at “Second Chance”

A customer making a purchase at Second Chance.

The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance thrift shop, which is closed for the summer, will reopen for one day on Wednesday, August 22 for “First Chance at Second Chance,” a preview of items available for sale when the shop reopens permanently on September 4.

The Second Chance Shop established a new record last season, raising more than $126,000, which was 48% more than the previous season’s $85,000. The shop was operating in a new location, a building adjacent to the Gladstone United Methodist Church. For several years prior to that, it had operated out of the church’s basement. Funds raised by the thrift shop help support several activities and programs at Matheny.

Joan Stiles, taking home her purchases.

The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance shop set a new record for the 2012-2013 season, reaching $126,036.08 in sales, its largest total ever and a 48% increase over the previous year’s $85,000. Previous high was reached in the 2006-07 season when the shop earned $105.275.58.

This was the shop’s first year in a building adjacent to the Gladstone United Methodist Church, after operating for several years out of the church’s basement. Funds raised by the Second Chance Shop help support a variety of activities and programs at Matheny.

Janet Stiles of Far Hills, was one of the last shoppers to make a purchase on Friday, June 22, the last day before closing for the summer. A “regular” there, she bought some clothes and a very unusual wooden holder for pots and pans. “I stop in quite frequently to check things out.”

The Second Chance shop will reopen for one day on August 22 for “First Chance at Second Chance.” Then, it will reopen permanently on September 4.

Standing, from left, Bob Zaborowski, Somerset County freeholder; Steve Proctor; Jean Wadsworth; Casey Crabill, President of Raritan Valley Community College; Mark Caligure, Somerset County freeholder; Anita & Jim Ventantonio of Bridgewater, NJ; front, Patrick Scaglione, Somerset County freeholder.

“Matheny needs to grow in order to take care of those families who need them.” With those words, the Rev. John Graf, co-chair of the Spirit of Somerset Awards, introduced Matheny president Steve Proctor and The Friends of Matheny recording secretary Jean Wadsworth to accept their Spirit of Somerset Awards, given June 13 at a special ceremony at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.

Proctor talked about the origins of Matheny and how the original school was founded by Walter and Marguerite Matheny, whose son Chuck had cerebral palsy. He described how Matheny has evolved into a special hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities and how difficult it is for parents to decide that their child would be better off living at the hospital, rather than at home.

Wadsworth, a past president of The Friends of Matheny, recalled how, “nearly 30 years ago, a small group of relative newcomers to the Somerset Hills organized a fundraising group to support what was then the Matheny School. In the intervening years, The Friends has raised over $3 million to support the work of what has become the Matheny Medical and Educational Center.”

She then described the many contributions the group has made over the years. As an example, she invited members of the audience to, “be there on the weekend, and you will see residents enjoying entertainment that has been funded by The Friends. Know that these residents can also go skiing or ice skating using adaptive equipment, again funded by The Friends.”

Funds raised at the Spirit of Somerset event will benefit Somerset Treatment Services, an agency based in Somerville, NJ, that provides treatment and preventive services to persons suffering from substance abuse or HIV-related illnesses.

A recent donation to Matheny from The Friends of Matheny provided a brand new supply of augmentative communication switches, which are used by younger, non-verbal students such as six-year-old Jack Harter, shown here hitting a switch in response to a question from speech-language pathologist Christine Mayercik.

Matheny and The Friends of Matheny will be honored as two of 18 organizations receiving “Spirit of Somerset” Awards at a dinner and ceremony being held at the Grounds for Sculpture RATS Restaurant in Hamilton, NJ., tonight  [June 13].

The Rev. John Graf, co-chairman, in an interview in the Courier News, described the Spirit of Somerset Awards as “the perfect way for the Somerset County community to join together to celebrate the many accomplishments of these dedicated volunteers and business leaders.” Among the other honorees are Suplee, Clooney & Co., CPA, Westfield, NJ (business); Josh Pauls, member of the USA Paralympic sled ice hockey team (athletics/recreation); and Patricia Flannery, former mayor of Bridgewater, NJ (government).

Proceeds from the event will help support the Somerset Treatment Services’ Strengthening Families and Pathways to Parenting program for women and children. The event is held in partnership with the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Both Matheny and The Friends, our auxiliary group, are receiving awards for education.

After two years at the helm of The Friends of Matheny, our auxiliary group, June Cioppettini is passing the gavel to Liz Geraghty, whose daughter, Bozena, is a residential student at Matheny.

The transition in leadership and installation of officers for the 2012-13 season took place at The Friends’ annual luncheon held at the Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham, NJ. Steve Proctor, Matheny president, thanked The Friends for their continuing support, pointing out some of the programs that couldn’t exist without their assistance. Geraghty expressed her admiration for The Friends’ legacy, which originated with a small group of women whose “time, effort and energy totally impressed me,” and said how grateful she was to be part of the Matheny family.

Since its inception in 1983, The Friends of Matheny has raised more than $3 million for the students and patients at Matheny.

Pictured are the new officers, from left: Jean Wadsworth, recording secretary; Andrea Szott, vice president, fundraising; Lisa Lee, vice president, fundraising; Geraghty; Dorothy Carter, vice president, membership; Lisa Novella, corresponding secretary; Nancy Hojnacki, vice president, membership; and Cioppettini.

Goldman Sachs volunteers hard at work.

As part of the company’s Community Works Day program, a group of volunteers from Goldman Sachs recently spent a day at Matheny sprucing up the grounds—adding topsoil in the garden in front of the main building, planting shrubs, putting mulch in flowerbeds and shrub areas and pruning plants and shrubs. All supplies, including tools, bushes, mulch and topsoil, were made possible by a Goldman Sachs grant of $2,830 to The Friends of Matheny, Matheny’s auxiliary group.

The day was coordinated by Goldman Sachs executive John Cembrook, a resident of Bernardsville, NJ. In addition to their work, the GS volunteers also enjoyed a tour of Matheny.

Liz Geraghty and Bo.

Accepting the presidency of The Friends of Matheny is, to Liz Geraghty, a way of giving back to an organization that has provided her and her family security and peace of mind. Geraghty’s daughter Bozena was born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), a genetic disorder that causes a range of physical, cognitive and medical challenges. Bo has been a residential student at Matheny since June 2009, and she has flourished.

When Bo was first admitted to Matheny, the Geraghtys weren’t sure how she would adapt. “We decided we would just follow her lead,” Geraghty recalls. “She was laughing, crying, being stubborn, giggling – all of her normal emotions. That, to us, meant she was relaxed. My biggest surprise,” she continues, “is how much the recreation therapy department looked at my daughter as a teenager, who just happened to have this syndrome. They said, ‘We want to take her camping – three days, two nights.’ I said, ‘You’re kidding!’”

After joining the board of The Friends, Matheny’s auxiliary group, Geraghty became familiar with its origins. “I learned that the group was started by a small group of women who had no family connection to Matheny. The time, effort and energy they spent totally impressed me.” As she prepares to take office, Geraghty is looking forward to recruiting new members to The Friends as well as working more closely with Matheny’s development department and its Board of Trustees.

She can do all of this because she no longer worries about her daughter. “My youngest child,” she says, “has left home, and her future is secure.”

Irene Ellis, also of Gladstone, shows off her purchases as she gets set to celebrate her 87th birthday.

Every year, to thank all of the volunteers who have worked in The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance Shop, manager Linda Horton has a party to celebrate their accomplishments. The only requirement for those attending is that they wear or show something they actually bought at the shop. This year’s event was held May 3 in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center at Matheny, and no one was disappointed.

Some of the volunteers sported complete outfits, others just an accessory such as a hat, scarf or tie. And some confessed that they don’t buy clothes but, instead, toys for their grandchildren or household items such as dishes or vases. In the grandchildren category, the big buyer was Janet Allocca of Chester, NJ, who revealed that she has 19!

Irene Wiehle of Gladstone, NJ, in her very eclectic outfit.

At the time of the get-together, the Second Chance Shop had already surpassed $100,000 in sales with almost a month to go in the season, so there will probably be another party to celebrate a new record. Steve Proctor, Matheny president, thanked the volunteers for all their hard work and read off a list of items for the patients and students made possible by the money from their sales.

Sylvia Bre, left, receives her $25 gift certificate from Linda Horton, center, Second Chance manager, and Benita Kiell.

When The Friends of Matheny, Matheny’s auxiliary group, moved its Second Chance Thrift Shop from the basement of the United Methodist Church in Gladstone, NJ, to the adjacent Wesley Hall, which is much larger, the expectation was that business would increase. But no one expected it to be this much.

For the 2010-2011 season, the Second Chance Shop raised $85,000 to benefit Matheny. On April 24 of this year, the shop passed the $100,000 mark for the 2011-2012 season, and the season doesn’t end until after Memorial Day.

Sylvia Bre of Swiftwater, PA, bought a pair of shoes for $2, which put the shop over the $100,000 mark. She received a $25 gift certificate, and the two volunteer salespeople on duty – Benita Kiell of Far Hills and Betty Martin of Basking Ridge – were rewarded with $5 gift certificates.

Chris Johnson, center, and Seena Frankel, right, wait on customer Linda Cowperthwaite of Long Valley, NJ, who says, “I like shopping here because the staff is so helpful.”

People shop at The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance Shop in Gladstone, NJ, mainly because of the bargains. But it also helps to have friendly, knowledgeable salespeople, all of whom are volunteers. Two of the veteran volunteers, Chris Johnson of Bedminster, NJ, and Seena Frankel of Bernardsville, NJ, had the “shift of the week” in late March. On a Thursday morning, they sold $518.75 worth of merchandise, including a big set of dishes, two bookcases and a painted saw.

When Frankel moved to Bernardsville from Brooklyn 10 years ago, she began volunteering at the shop. She loves that “the customers are all different, plus I love organizing things.” Johnson met Frankel at an art class at the Center for Contemporary Art in Pluckemin, NJ. “Seena introduced me to Matheny,” she recalls. They also discovered that they both had gone to Chatham High School.

The Second Chance Shop, which earned $88,000 last year, seems to be on a record pace this year after moving to a larger location in the Gladstone United Methodist Church. As of March 31, its total sales for the year were more than $90,000, about $23,000 ahead of the previous year. The Friends of Matheny, Matheny’s auxiliary group, has raised more than $3 million since its inception in 1983.

The Bernardsville Rotary will be manning the grills, like they did last year.

The Celebration Picnic at this year’s Miles for Matheny will be held in Liberty Park in downtown Peapack instead of at Matheny. Food and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. The Friends of Matheny, Matheny’s auxiliary group, will sponsor the “Breakfast of Champions” and the Bernardsville Rotary Club will again be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. In addition to food supplied by Matheny and its sponsors, some local businesses, such as Cesar’s Corner Deli and Dominick’s Pizza, will be offering food for sale.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny, being held Sunday, April 22, will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny’s inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community. Major Miles sponsors are: Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation; Archer & Greiner, P.C; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

A typical Dawg Pound display in Matheny’s rotunda area.

The Dawg Pound was launched in 2009 to sharpen practical work skills of Matheny patients and students. With startup funds of $5,000 provided by The Friends of Matheny auxiliary group and Village Office Supply of Somerset, NJ, the Dawg Pound participants were able to build a display kiosk and purchase inventory, which includes coffee mugs, water bottles and a variety of Matheny apparel items.

The operation is divided into three departments: marketing, finance, and sales/inventory. Teamwork, budgeting, effective advertising and customer service are all skills that have been learned by those working in the Dawg Pound, which was named after the Matheny teams’ mascot, the Bulldog. In addition to selling merchandise to Matheny employees, Dawg Pound participants sometimes set up shop at special events out in the community.