There’s a powerful force standing in the way of healing. It whispers shame, fuels fear, and keeps too many of us from reaching out for help. That force is stigma—and at the Matthew Perry Foundation, we are calling it out.
Stigma is the true enemy. It tells people struggling with substance use disorder to suffer in silence. It blocks funding for programs that save lives. It convinces communities that recovery isn’t worth investing in. But here’s the truth: if we conquer stigma, the disease will crumble. If we change the way we talk about addiction, we change the world. Healing begins with honesty, and recovery begins with belonging.
Grantee Spotlight: American Indian Child Resource Center
We are proud to highlight a powerful partner in our mission: the American Indian Child Resource Center (AICRC). For over four decades, AICRC has stood as a pillar of cultural strength and resilience for Native youth and their families across the Bay Area.
With programs in foster care, mental health, education, and traditional culture, AICRC does more than provide services—they build identity, dignity, and pride. Through after-school support, academic enrichment, and Native-led mentorship, they help young people reconnect with their roots and rise as leaders.
But progress isn’t always easy. Transportation barriers meant many youth couldn’t access these life-changing spaces. With support from the Matthew Perry Foundation, AICRC was able to bring back a former staff member and secure reliable vehicles—turning “I can’t get there” into “I belong here.” Because culture is not just what we inherit—it’s what we make accessible, together.
Now Accepting Applications: MPF Next Gen Ambassadors
At the Matthew Perry Foundation, we believe young people aren’t just the future—they’re leading the way right now. That’s why we’re launching the Matthew Perry Foundation Next Gen Ambassador Program, a new initiative to amplify youth voices in the fight against substance use disorder and the stigma that keeps people from getting help.
We’re inviting teens and young adults, ages 14 to 22, to help guide our work supporting young people impacted by addiction. Whether through lived experience, advocacy, or passion, Ambassadors will share ideas, meet virtually with Matthew Perry Foundation staff, and co-create efforts that bring recovery into reach for more people.
We’re launching a national call on social media to reach bold, compassionate young leaders ready to make a difference.
Social Innovation Summit | June 3–4 | San Francisco
We’re proud to share that our Executive Director, Lisa Kasteler-Calio and Karen Gaines, our Chief Mission Officer, have been invited to attend the Social Innovation Summit, a global convening of changemakers redefining what’s possible in social impact.
Lisa will join the breakout panel “Living Long, Happy Lives: Impactful Solutions for Wellbeing and Longevity,” a dynamic conversation exploring how we can create healthier, more hopeful futures for all. We’re honored to bring the Matthew Perry Foundation’s mission—and Matthew’s legacy—to this powerful dialogue alongside fellow leaders who believe in the power of compassion, community, and courageous ideas.
This year’s Summit theme, “Navigating the New Era,” speaks to both the uncertainty and possibility of this moment. At the Matthew Perry Foundation, we believe empathy is innovation. Recovery is innovation. When we lead with compassion, bold solutions emerge—and lasting change becomes possible.
Welcoming Leaders in the Fight Against Stigma to Join the Advisory Board
We are honored to welcome two nationally recognized leaders in addiction medicine to the Matthew Perry Foundation Advisory Board: Dr. Sarah Wakeman and Dr. Andrew Herring.
Both are on the front lines of care, innovation, and advocacy—driving systems change and delivering hope where it’s needed most.
Dr. Sarah Wakeman is a pioneer in rethinking how health care treats substance use disorder. As Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder at Mass General Brigham and Program Director of the MGH Addiction Medicine Fellowship, she pairs clinical excellence with a deep commitment to compassion, equity, and dignity. The Foundation is proud to have launched the Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine. This is our first initiative to bear Matthew’s name and is vital in providing intensive training in how to treat those suffering with substance use disorder.
Dr. Andrew Herring is transforming emergency medicine into a doorway to recovery. At Highland Hospital in Oakland, he leads groundbreaking efforts to connect patients to treatment directly from the ER. A Fulbright Scholar, UCSF educator, and expert in pain and addiction medicine, Dr. Herring champions evidence-based, human-centered care that meets people where they are. The Foundation has been honored to support his groundbreaking telehealth program that serves individuals soon to be released from Santa Rita Jail, the largest in California.
Together, Dr. Wakeman and Dr. Herring bring vital expertise and bold vision to our mission—helping us confront stigma, expand access, and make recovery possible for all.
Thank You for Being Here
You are part of a movement that is bigger than any one person. Every time you open this newsletter, donate to a program, or share a story, you help build the future Matthew believed in—a future where recovery is possible for everyone, and no one is defined by the struggles they face.
This month reminded us of something we know in our bones: we are the movement we’ve been waiting for. Every story, every act of generosity, every person reached through our grantees is another step toward healing a deeply hurting world.
Thank you for standing with us.
With deep gratitude and hope,
The Matthew Perry Foundation Team
