Our Impact

Our focused approach supports on-the-ground organizations
delivering essential resources and services to those
in greatest need.

Grassroots Recovery Grant logo

Grassroots Recovery Grants

The Grassroots Recovery Grants initiative, our inaugural program, empowers local organizations working tirelessly to combat substance use disorders within their communities. The program provides financial assistance to diverse groups that play a crucial role in offering hope and recovery to individuals affected by substance use disorders, but that may not have the resources or recognition often required to secure traditional funding.

Because the Foundation is working directly with community leaders and the state legislature to identify programs in dire need, these grants help bridge gaps in people’s recovery journeys and fill them with support from leaders on the ground.

CA Bridge logo

Bridge to Treatment

A Public Health Institute x Matthew Perry Foundation Collaboration

The Matthew Perry Foundation, in partnership with Dr. Andrew Herring, Highland Hospital, and the Public Health Institute, is launching a transformative telehealth program to support incarcerated individuals suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD).

“Our reality is that it’s cheaper for the state to let those who are suffering die than to provide them the treatment they vitally need,” says Dr. Herring.

This stark truth drives the need for our groundbreaking initiative, which builds on the success of a local pilot at Santa Rita Jail, one of California’s largest. The pilot program has shown that connecting incarcerated individuals to addiction specialists before release significantly improves follow-up care and reduces the risk of overdose. Now, we aim to expand that success statewide, ensuring continuity of care for those who need it most.

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Mass General Brigham logo

Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Mass General

The Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is our first program to proudly bear Matthew Perry’s name. Led by Dr. Sarah Wakeman, a national leader in addiction medicine, this fellowship exemplifies our commitment to reshaping how addiction is treated and perceived. Dr. Wakeman, the Medical Director of the Substance Use Disorders Initiative at MGH, is renowned for her innovative, evidence-based approaches to treating substance use disorders, particularly in marginalized and underserved communities. Under her guidance, the fellowship provides advanced training that equips physicians with the skills to lead, advocate, and address health disparities in the field of addiction medicine.

Comprehensive Training and Leadership Development

The one-year fellowship offers a robust combination of inpatient and outpatient care training, with a strong focus on treating substance use disorder in populations disproportionately impacted by addiction. Physicians receive hands-on experience and specialized training designed to prepare them for leadership roles in addiction medicine. The program not only creates expert clinicians but also nurtures future leaders who will advocate for systemic change and advance public understanding of addiction as a treatable disease.

Matthew Perry Foundation Fellows

The Foundation is honored to partner with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and support its renowned Addiction Medicine Fellowship program by sponsoring Dr. Sarah “SK” Kler as the inaugural Matthew Perry Foundation fellow. This fellowship exemplifies our shared commitment to equipping physicians with the expertise and compassion needed to transform care and foster innovative recovery for sufferers of substance use disorder in communities across the nation.

At the heart of this initiative is the groundbreaking work of Dr. Sarah Wakeman, Senior Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder at Mass General Brigham, and her team. Their leadership in training the next generation of addiction medicine specialists aligns with the Foundation’s mission to eliminate stigma, enhance treatment, and ensure that all individuals affected by substance use disorder receive the care they deserve. Supporting this vital work underscores the Matthew Perry Foundation’s dedication to advancing compassionate, evidence-based solutions to address the addiction crisis caused by this disease.

Our inaugural fellow, Dr. Kler, embodies this mission with her deep commitment to underserved populations and her steadfast advocacy for patients. A graduate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and currently Chief Medical Resident in Internal Medicine at MGH, Dr. Kler has worked extensively with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and served as a case manager for vulnerable communities. Her experience reflects her passion for addressing addiction as a treatable disease and ensuring that patients receive equitable care.

Through this fellowship, Dr. Kler and her peers will gain hands-on experience in innovative programs like the Bridge Clinic, HOPE Clinic, and inpatient Addiction Consult Team. By supporting this vital training, the Matthew Perry Foundation is helping to ensure that hope and healing remain within reach for countless individuals and families affected by substance use disorder, while honoring Matthew’s enduring legacy.

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Looking
ahead

Our commitment to these groups goes beyond funding; it’s about fostering lasting relationships. By creating a community of grassroots organizations that share resources, connections, and visibility, the Foundation acts as the vital platform that amplifies their efforts and enhances their impact.

Please join us in
our mission