Holding Court

There were three-point attempts from several rows back in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center auditorium, layups and jump shots on the stage, and a helping hand for Matheny students and patients, who were playing adapted basketball games. It was all part of the annual visit to Matheny by members of the Delbarton School varsity basketball team.

Participation in sports is very important to Matheny’s students and patients who compete in Special Olympics, play a variety of adapted sports, and often attend high school, college, and professional games as part of Matheny’s recreation therapy program. The Delbarton visit is greatly anticipated every year, stoking competitive fires and resulting in a lot of fun and camaraderie.

Davis Bell, left, gives Matheny student Shane Szott some tips, while his Delbarton teammate Kevin Schroeder looks on.

Dan Cimaglia helps Matheny student Ryan O’Connor shoot a basket.

Delbarton is an independent college preparatory school in Morristown, NJ, for boys, grades 7-12.

Matheny group home resident Jenny Cox receives presents from Jason Boege of Farmingdale, NJ; Santa Claus (Tom Brophy of Randolph), and Shari Comerford of Jackson.

CARS volunteers gathered with Matheny residents and staff for a group photo at the end of a fun-filled day.

In 1974, auto racing photographer Ace Lane, Jr. and three other auto racing enthusiasts founded the Committee of Auto Racing Supporters (CARS). For the past 41 years, the CARS organization has not only been dedicated to car racing; its members have gone out of their way to cheer up the children and adults at Matheny during the holiday season.

Every year, CARS volunteers throw a Christmas party for residents of Matheny and its group homes, bringing presents for those who do not have strong family connections during the holidays. The most recent CARS Christmas Party was held on Saturday, December 19, and the dining room at Matheny was filled with the Christmas spirit as the CARS members, from all over New Jersey and neighboring states, brought gifts and holiday cheer to Matheny’s students and patients.

Fraternal Order of Eagles trustee Victor Laggini, third from left, presents a check for $4,000 to Matheny student, Jameir Warren-Treadwell. Others, clockwise from left: student Sara Hoffman; nurse Nancy Winder; Matheny president Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD; Matheny School principal Sean Murphy; student Ryan O’Connor; teacher Stacy Lafargue; teaching assistant Alicia Haller; student Katherine Gaudio; and teaching assistant Michelle Golder.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles #2137 in Bridgewater, NJ, recently donated $4,000 to The Matheny School for the purchase of voice output communication devices. Many of the students at The Matheny School are non-verbal and need these voice output communication devices in order to communicate. These devices are used in every classroom and many therapy sessions, as well as in the community at such places as museums, restaurants, and shopping malls. Their life expectancy is relatively short, and they are expensive to replace. So the donation was greatly appreciated.

“We love you!” That’s how members of the Matheny Choir were greeted by a well-wisher from the audience as they made their annual appearance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark as part of the Holiday Express annual benefit concert on December 10. The choir sang “Snow Globe” and “Frosty” to standing ovations and then joined the Holiday Express band and singers for a rousing rendition of “Happy”, led by Holiday Express vocalist Lisa Rott.

Founded by Tim McLoone in 1993, Holiday Express has more than 100 professional singers and musicians who volunteer their time, along with an additional 1,300 volunteers. The band visited Matheny on November 22, one of about 60 appearances in November and December at hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and other places where people need cheering up.

From left, choir member Corey Kent, music therapy director Lynn Coyle, music therapy intern Genevieve Scott, and choir member Bianca Mathis.

Choir member Natalie Tomastyk, cheered on by a Holiday Express singer.

The choir is part of Matheny’s music therapy program, which uses various types of music to positively affect students’ and patients’ cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills, helping them realize their potential in society.

Matheny resident Cindy Shanks with, clockwise from left: Matheny School principal/director Sean Murphy; Sal Longo; Grand Knight Albert Logludice; Deputy Grand Knight Ron Christensen; Dominick Rizzitano; and financial secretary Robert Warren.

The Knights of Columbus Council #5959 in Martinsville, NJ, donated a large amount of knit sportswear to Matheny that was then offered for sale to Matheny employees. Proceeds from the sale will then be donated to The Matheny School.

Several members of the Knights visited Matheny on December 2, touring the facility, learning about the many programs and services and visiting with some of the students and patients.

Your generosity will help kids, teens, and adults with disabilities like four-year-old Rishu, one of the many children whose lives have been vastly improved because of the programs and services provided by Matheny.

Make your tax-deductible gift before midnight December 31.

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Home Depot paving crew.

Bridgewater Promenade store manager John Pingitore with Matheny student Jenna Poleyeff.

Oldcastle Building Materials provided the pavers, and a large group of Home Depot volunteers provided the muscle and additional materials and equipment as they installed the pavers in the front of Matheny’s main building to give a new look to the patio area.

This is not the first time Home Depot has supported Matheny by helping to improve the grounds and facilities. Back in April, a group of employees from both Bridgewater, NJ, stores planted gardens for a Matheny School project and performed major makeovers on the nature trail and ball field. This time, they were assisted by volunteers from additional Home Depot stores in Dover, Roxbury, and Watchung, NJ.

Once again, Home Depot lived up to its motto that, “Giving back is a fundamental value of The Home Depot and a passion for its associates.”

Peapack-Gladstone police at work during one of the many drills they conduct at Matheny.

Thanks to the Peapack-Gladstone Police Department from The Matheny School for everything you do to make our school and the Peapack-Gladstone community so safe.

Every year the police department enters into an arrangement known as the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement Between Education and Law Enforcement Officials. This agreement is required by law, but what is exemplary is the outstanding partnership that has developed between the police department and our school. Every month, the P-G police work with us to practice planned security drills. These drills are varied in size and complexity and provide vital exercises in preparation for a variety of scenarios including active shooters, suspicious packages and bomb threats.

During Violence Awareness Week, the police judged competitions at our school and worked with community volunteers so that our students could see first-hand the friendly faces of our first responders. During this holiday season, we would like to give special recognition to our partners in school security.

Each year during the holiday season The Friends of Matheny makes sure that every residential room at Matheny has a holiday wreath on the door. Several members of The Friends gathered on December 2 to fluff out the wreaths and them ready for distribution.

Friends, from left: Karen Thompson, Nancy Hojnacki, Kathy Sisto, Helen Fallone, and Linda Horton

The Friends of Matheny is dedicated to providing support to Matheny. Since its inception in 1983, the volunteer organization has raised more than $3 million to support Matheny’s programs and services.

Matt McDermott, an eighth grader at the Delbarton School in Morristown, NJ, and a resident of Basking Ridge, NJ, made his annual visit to Matheny to drop off a donation from funds raised at his family’s annual pool party. McDermott, accompanied by his mother, Susan McDermott, presented a check for $500 to Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, Matheny’s president and CEO.

From left, Larry Thornton, Matheny trustee; Susan McDermott; Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD; and Matt McDermott.

In addition to his support of Matheny, McDermott has formed a group called Athletes in Motion, designed to raise money for special athletes in the community. This is the fifth consecutive year that McDermott has delivered a donation of either cash or toys to Matheny. Thanks, Matt!