About Matheny
The Matheny Medical and Educational Center is for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. It is located in Peapack, New Jersey and founded by Walter and Marguerite Matheny in 1946 for their son Chuck (who can still be found wandering the halls of Matheny and in attendance of every Christmas Party). The school is home to children and adults with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, Lesch-Nyhan disease and other developmental disabilities.
About the Party
The Matheny Christmas Party started 40 years ago with a couple of local New Jersey race car drivers looking to make someone else's Christmas special. It started out as just fundraising for the school, but once the drivers found out that there were students who lived at the school that did not have families to spend this special time of year with, they knew they needed to do something. Every year, these drivers would invite more and more people, which included family members, friends, fans, and even complete strangers that have now become close friends. Every party, the group that attends has been getting bigger and bigger.
Each year the students write to Santa everything they want for Christmas. These lists get compiled and each attendee sponsors a student and buys them what they want. As the years have progressed, so have the gifts. They can range anywhere from clothes to iPads. The party has yet to deny any student something on their wish list, which is a great feat going on 40 years.
Why Matheny?
As someone who has been at the Matheny Christmas Party for the past 24 years (yes, that is since birth), I can personally attest to the impact that it has on others. Christmas and Santa are both things that every person, I know at least, takes for granted. As children, we relish in the idea of Santa coming down our chimneys to leave us presents under our tree. We wake up with our families and open our gifts in such a joyful and loving environment. We forget that while we are in our homes doing this, there are so many others having a completely different experience. It is times and places like Matheny that remind us that others do deserve to have that same experience we all grew up on.
Let me paint you a picture. Its the day of the party. Everyone is excited and nervous at the same time. We have new people attending who have no idea what to expect, and we have our regulars who are looking forward to seeing their old friends in the students. We all mingle and talk with the students and get to know the new faces. Then you hear it, the soft chimes of bells are in the air. And you know what is coming next. The yells and claps begin as each student realizes what this sound means. SANTA IS COMING! The joy that is on their faces as Santa walks in and greets each other them will leave you speechless. I've seen grown men, tough race car drivers, cry at the sight of this (and yes, I myself am crying just typing this). It is a moment in your life that you will truly never forget. It changes you.
How Can You Help?
There are many different ways you can help:
1. Donate directly to the school
2. Donate to their Go Fund Me Page
3. Mail a check to RJC Charities at 70 Albert Drive Parlin, NJ 08859 (this is a 501C3 Charity which enables you to get a tax right off, please request a tax exempt letter with your check).
5. Donate to RJC Charities Paypal Page
4. Mail a check or giftcards to Kevin Eyres (the organizer of the party) at 144 Mercer Road Colts Neck, NJ 07722
5. Don't have the funds to sponsor a kid or donate this year? Attend the party! Plain and simple. The event this year is Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 12:30 PM. If you would like to come please email allisoneyres@yahoo.com for more information.
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