Matthew Perry Foundation established to fulfill his dream of helping people overcome addiction

Matthew Perry, fondly called "Chandler Bing" by his fans, is remembered as a buddy who was always there for his "Friends" on the famous sit-com. Whether it was to help Joey with his struggling career as an actor, being a shoulder to cry on for Monica, babysitting Phoebe's nieces and nephew, setting Rachel up on a date or being Ross' BFF, he was always there. The actor had always held a dream of "helping people." After the actor's shocking death, the "Matthew Perry Foundation" has been established to help those with addiction to honor Perry's dedication to helping people struggling with drug addiction.

According to TODAY, the Matthew Perry Foundation announced on November 3 that it will assist people struggling with addiction. Moreover, the Matthew Perry Foundation's mission statement on the website states that Perry's unremitting commitment to helping people who are struggling with the disease of addiction makes this foundation a reality. It will celebrate his legacy and guided by his words and experiences, it will be "making a difference in as many lives as possible."

The website also quotes one of Perry's most prized words that he said in an interview last year with podcast host Tom Power, "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. And 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." 

According to ABC, Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind Perry's famous show "Friends," shared a statement in the aftermath of his death by saying, "We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans."

Perry struggled with addiction for almost three decades, according to PEOPLE. He wrote a memoir, released in November 2022, called "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," detailing his addiction and sobriety journey. While speaking to the outlet, he shared, "I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again. I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people." 

Perry's passion for helping those who are sailing through the same rough waters of alcoholism and addiction as he did is coming true with the Matthew Perry Foundation. Even though the actor has left behind a huge void in the lives of the lovers of Chandler Bing, his dream to be remembered for "helping" people will continue to come true and change many lives for the better.