Matthew Perry’s stepfather Keith Morrison has urged fans to donate to a foundation set up in the late star’s name on Giving Tuesday.
The Dateline journalist, 76, took to X in a heartfelt post on Monday to urge people to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation.
He wrote, “This isn’t the kind of thing I usually do, this pitch. But this year it’s different.’
“Do what you can; he would have been grateful.”
This comes after Perry’s family encouraged his fans to get involved and help others on Giving Tuesday.
Matthew Perry’s stepfather Keith Morrison has urged fans to donate to a foundation set up in the late star’s name on Giving Tuesday
Post: The Dateline journalist, 76, took to X in a heartfelt post on Monday to urge people to donate to the Matthew Perry Foundation
The late actor’s loved ones established the Matthew Perry Foundation just days after his death in late October at the age of 54. (Pictured in West Hollywood in November 2022)
The late actor’s loved ones established the Matthew Perry Foundation just days after his death in late October at the age of 54.
The charity’s aim is to help others suffering from addiction, by ‘identifying addiction as a disease, tackling the complex of stigmas that prevent individuals from seeking and accessing care, and by vigorously advocating for better and fairer treatment.’
In a statement to People, the Friends star’s family explained, “It is important for us as a family to honor Matthew’s legacy.”
‘The potential that the Matthew Perry Foundation Helping people suffering from this disease is something we are proud to offer to the world.”
Perry’s stepfather, Dateline reporter Keith Morrison, stepped out of his comfort zone and posted a statement on But this year it’s different. And tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful.”
The website features a black and white photo of the late actor with a statement he made about his legacy.
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing mentioned; I want helping others to be the first thing mentioned. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that.”
‘Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together we can beat it one day at a time.”
In his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote that he had attended 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and had gone to rehab 15 times.
After being honored by the Phoenix House treatment center in 2015, Perry said The Hollywood Reporter“You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and expect it to be resolved in 28 days,” referring to the length of time most insurance companies in the U.S. cover for substance abuse treatment.
Actor and friend Hank Azaria credited the prankster with accompanying him to his first meeting with Alcoholics Anonymous.
“I’ve been a sober man for 17 years, and I want to say that the night I went to AA, Matthew took me in,” he wrote on social media.
Foundation: The Matthew Perry Foundation was established in the days following the actor’s death at age 54 (pictured in West Hollywood in November 2022)
Purpose: The nonprofit charity’s purpose is to identify addiction as a disease, address the stigmas that prevent people from seeking and accessing care, and advocate for better and more equitable treatment (pictured in Los Angeles in April)
“The whole freshman year I was sober, we went to meetings together,” the Simpsons actor said.
“He was so caring, giving and wise. And he totally helped me get sober. And I really wish he had, you know, found the… it within himself to stick to the silver life more consistently.”
Although he never met Perry, comedian John Mulaney, who detailed his own addiction struggles on his Netflix show Baby J, said he was affected by his death.
“Addiction is just a disaster,” he said Variety.
Memoir: The actor wrote in depth about his struggles with addiction and the physical toll it took on his body in his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing
“Life is like a wobbly table at a restaurant and you pile all this junk on it, and it becomes wobbly and wobbly and more unstable. Then the drugs kick the king’s legs out from under the table. I really recognized myself in his story. I think about him a lot.’
Matthew Perry died on October 28 after being found unconscious in the jacuzzi at his home.
The police on site determined that there was no foul play.
An autopsy has been performed, but the results have not yet been released pending the results of a toxicology report.
The Matthew Perry Foundation was established on November 3.
AA: After Perry’s death, actor Hank Azaria credited the Friends star with accompanying him to his first Alcohol Anonymous meeting. “He was so caring, giving and wise. And he totally helped me get sober,” he wrote in an online tribute (pictured in New York in May)
Identified: Although he never met Perry, comedian John Mulaney, who detailed his own addiction struggles on his Netflix show Baby J, said he was affected by his death. I really identified with his story,” he told Variety. ‘I think about him a lot’
Private funeral: Perry was buried at a private funeral. All his friends play along; Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer were in attendance
A press release announced that the foundation had been established: “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 honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, led by his own words and experiences. and driven by his passion to make a difference in as many lives as possible.’
The actor was buried in a private funeral.
All his friends play along; Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer were in attendance.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.