On Tuesday, December 3, the Matheny Medical and Educational Center is proudly joining thousands of causes around the globe to celebrate #GivingTuesday, a national day of giving to celebrate the holiday season. On the heels of two big spending days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is intended to refocus the holiday season on giving back to those who need it most.
Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. We are focusing our #GivingTuesday campaign on raising funds for the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which treats more than 800 people with disabilities from communities throughout New Jersey. Unfortunately, less than 50% of the cost of that care is covered by insurance.
Here are some stories about some of the people we help:
John DiNorcia: John, from Raritan, was born with a genetic disability called G Syndrome, which left him with an intellectual disability. When he was growing up, a visit to the dentist, says his mother Dorothy, "made him squirm in fear." At Matheny, "he walks in by himself. The staff talks to him in a very calm way. Everyone is so friendly."
Amanda and Daniel Anastasia: Brother and sister from Hopatcong have a condition called Aicardi-Goutieres, a syndrome that affects all of their motor functions. They have been coming to Matheny's seating and mobility clinic for 12 years because, says their mother Sam, "the Matheny therapists know their movements, their tone . . . If there's a problem, they find a way to solve it."
Ana Congo: Adult with cerebral palsy and associated behavioral issues travels all the way from Red Bank because, according to her mother Nancy, "the staff at Matheny understands her unique needs. I've wasted a lot of time going to other hospitals."
Bobby Hopkins: "I think what I could say more than anything about Matheny," says Carol Hopkins of Bridgewater, "is that the people there understand Bobby." Her son Bobby was born with a seizure disorder that has many of the same symptoms as cerebral palsy. "If Matheny didn't exist," she adds, "we'd have to shop for doctors."
Judith Marino: Ursula Marino of Sayreville brings her daughter Judith, who was born with brain damage, to Matheny for primary medical care, women's health care, dental care and seating and mobility assistance. "You go somewhere else," she says, "they don't know what to do. Here, they're very patient, they know Judith by name. They don't let things slide."
#GivingTuesday was conceived by the 92nd Street Y in New York City, which created the concept last year and has provided support to other participating organizations. The idea is simple: We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. #GivingTuesday is a day for giving back. For more information on Matheny's #GivingTuesday campaign, log onto www.matheny.org or check out the Matheny Facebook page. For more information on #GivingTuesday, log onto www.givingtuesday.org.
