Matthew Perry, a Canadian actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV show Friends, sadly passed away at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023, due to an apparent drug overdose. Since then, his family has started the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada as a way to honour his memory and to help address the ongoing addiction crisis in Canada by helping people who struggle with it.

The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada was created to bring awareness to the addiction crisis we face in this country. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, expressed that watching the foundation shape into what it is today had been a “bright light” during a difficult time of losing her son. She hopes that the organization can serve as a place for people who are struggling with addiction and give them the necessary support and tools to begin the road of recovery and help beat addiction for good.

According to the foundation, 35 people die every day in Canada due to opioid overdose or stimulant toxicity. Up to 85 percent of individuals who seek help for addiction end up relapsing. This foundation wants to reduce the rates of relapse in individuals and provide key support to them through providing housing, mental health care, career training, and financial assistance for those who need it.

Foundations like the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada are crucial to helping individuals who suffer from addiction by providing key resources and support systems. If you are interested in donating or finding out more about this foundation, check out their website.