Matthew Perry's Foundation Looks to His Memoir for Guidance: We Hear Him Saying 'Help as Many People as Possible' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew Perry.Photo:Matthew Perry/Amazon; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Matthew Perry/Amazon; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Those who were closest to actorMatthew Perryare understandably emotional on theone-year anniversary of his death.

For his longtime team, manager Doug Chapin and publicist Lisa Kasteler-Calio, their love for Perry,who died Oct. 28, 2023 at age 54, and his determination to help others struggling with addiction has fueled their involvement in theMatthew Perry Foundationin the U.S., which was established shortly after his death.

Matthew Perry.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Their mission today is to provide grants to grassroots organizations that are “looking to fill the gaps in people’s recovery journey," says Chapin, who serves as the foundation’s board president. “One of reasons why it’s hard not to be emotional is this an organization constructed out of love for him. The thing that we all share is this act of love for him."

One of the foundation’s main goals is to combat the stigma surrounding the 48 million Americans coping with the disease of addiction. “Only a fifth of that 48 million reaches out for help because of the shame,” says Kasteler-Calio. “[Perry] was so convinced that he was less than, that he was never good enough. I believe that his life would’ve been remarkably different if he had understood that this was not his fault.”

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Matthew Perry.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

“The thing that keeps people from reaching out for help is stigma,” adds Chapin. “So, that’s kind of the big kahuna. And then the helping people in the journey became sort of project-specific for us.”

The more than 20 initial grantees include groups like The Wall Las Memorias, which supports Latino and LGBTQ+ communities in L.A., and a program offering addiction counseling via telehealth to people incarcerated at California’s Santa Rita Jail.

Matthew Perry.Jeff Lipsky/CPi Syndication

Jeff Lipsky/CPi Syndication

As far as funding goes, “we had and continue to have great support from his fans and from his estate, and that is enough to get us started,” says Chapin. “But we need and welcome more people to participate.”

To read more about Matthew Perry, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday.

Now, as their memories of Perry sustain them, his former team (including business manager Lisa Ferguson, who serves as the Foundation’s secretary treasurer), stays focused on the task ahead. “We spent so much of our careers helping him achieve the things he wanted to achieve, that, I believe, in his absence, we are achieving his primary goal of wanting to be remembered for helping people,” says Chapin.

For more information and to donate, visit theMatthew Perry Foundation.

source: people.com