Following the death of Matthew Perry on 28 October at the age of 54, a foundation has been set up in the actor’s name. The Matthew Perry Foundation, announced in a press release on Friday morning, is accepting donations to help those struggling with addiction.
“In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we are embarking on a journey to honour his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion to make a difference in as many lives as possible,” the foundation’s inaugural statement reads.
The organisation also cites Perry’s hope to be remembered first and foremost as a person who helped others struggling with addiction.
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing mentioned,” Perry said on the ‘Q With Tom Power’ podcast in 2022, promoting his memoir. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to beat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it.”
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom ‘Friends’, has been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. After a jet-ski accident in 1997, he became addicted to Vicodin and entered rehab in 2001. He later turned his former Malibu home into a sober living facility called Perry House, which operated until 2015.
The Foundation is sponsored and administered by the National Philanthropic Trust, a public charity and leader in donor-advised funds that has raised more than $49 billion since its inception.
