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