- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Dear Friends,
First, I want to apologize for not updating you sooner on everything happening with The Matthew Lawrence Perna Foundation. Time seems to slip away more quickly these days, but I promise to do a better job of keeping everyone informed going forward.
Over the past year, we have made some important decisions regarding the future of the Foundation. After much thought, we have decided to discontinue our Annual 5K/8-Mile Race and Chinese Auction fundraiser. For four years, this event was held in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, and we were incredibly grateful for the generosity of everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and sponsored it.
Unfortunately, participation in the race itself never reached the level we had hoped for. We tried everything we could think of, including offering prize money, lowering registration fees, expanding our advertising, and working with an outstanding race coordinator who gave the event her all. Even with the many walkers who joined us, runner participation remained low. Before last year's event, we made the difficult decision that if we could not reach 60 runners, it would be our final race.
Finding sponsors also became increasingly difficult. We were fortunate to have several loyal businesses and individuals who supported us year after year, and we will always be grateful for them. However, many businesses declined to participate because they did not want to be publicly associated with an event held in Matthew's memory. Some even shared that they feared losing customers if they became sponsors. That was painful to hear, but it became another factor in our decision.
The ongoing challenges of operating in Pennsylvania also played a role. Every event required permits and approvals, and the process was often frustrating. During our very first race, we were denied access to the Shenango Valley Dam, even though other races had been allowed to use it. Keeping the Foundation compliant with state and local requirements became an enormous undertaking and, at times, an emotional one.
After carefully weighing everything, we made the decision to relocate the Foundation to Florida, where I now reside. It simply made sense. When we established The Matthew Lawrence Perna Foundation, our purpose was to honor Matthew's legacy by helping others and supporting causes that reflected the kind of person he was. That mission has never changed. We simply realized that trying to raise funds in an area where support continued to decline was making it increasingly difficult to fulfill that mission.
In May of this year, the Foundation officially became a Florida nonprofit. Transferring the Foundation from Pennsylvania required the assistance of an experienced nonprofit attorney. He told us that, in all his years of handling nonprofit transfers, ours was one of the most difficult because of Pennsylvania's requirements. What normally takes about a month took more than five months to complete. Although it was a long and often frustrating process, we are excited to have it behind us and to begin this new chapter in Florida.
Now for the exciting news!
We continue to raise funds online, and we are currently exploring several new fundraising opportunities that will allow more people to become involved.
One of our largest projects has been our partnership with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. I am thrilled to share that we have successfully raised the funds needed to sponsor the training and certification of a service dog. We are now almost at the top of the waiting list to be matched with a puppy. Once one has been assigned, we will be sure to introduce you with a photo and the name that has been chosen.
The puppy will spend more than a year in training before being paired with a veteran in need, completely free of charge. Guardian Angels provides transportation, lodging, follow-up training, and ongoing support so that both the veteran and the service dog have every opportunity to succeed. Last fall, we had the privilege of visiting their facility in Florida, and seeing their work firsthand made an incredible impression on us. We are honored to partner with such an outstanding organization.
This year, we were also able to assist a family who experienced a heartbreaking tragedy. Only afterward did we learn that Matthew had known the family personally. They were deeply grateful for the help, and moments like these remind us why the Foundation exists. I truly believe Matthew would be proud every time we are able to make a difference in someone's life.
Thank you for your continued support of The Matthew Lawrence Perna Foundation, Inc. Because of your generosity, Matthew's name, kindness, and spirit continue to touch the lives of others. Although the Foundation now operates from Florida, our mission remains exactly the same.
If you would like to support our work, please visit our website at: https://www.MatthewLPernaFoundation.com
With heartfelt gratitude,
Geri PernaPresident
P.S. We invite you to follow our journey as we begin this new chapter in Florida. We look forward to sharing updates on our Guardian Angels service dog, the lives your generosity continues to touch, and the many ways Matthew's legacy lives on through your support.
