'We Got the Beat' At Matheny Medical and Education Center

"There's a lot of love in this room." That comment by Sean Bielefeldt, director of recreation therapy at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, was clearly an understatement. As Matheny students and patients entered The Skylands in Randolph for the annual Matheny School Prom on May 15, they were greeted by volunteers, family members and Matheny staff members, all of whom were there for one reason: to make the evening as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. The 'beat' was the music of the '80s, provided by the B.D. Lenz Band and deejay Craig Soprano. And many of the dancing partners were teenage volunteers. The largest group was the Junior Friends of Matheny, students from Bernards High School in Bernardsville and Ridge High in Basking Ridge. As one of them, Katherine Apt of Bernardsville, said, it was "the smiles on their faces" that made the whole evening worthwhile.

Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. The Prom is an example of Matheny's efforts to enhance the quality of life for the people it serves. The evening was coordinated by Matheny's recreation therapy department, which is responsible for providing students and patients with a variety of recreation opportunities and resources to improve their physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.