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About The Susie Foundation

The Susie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on changing the lives of young caregivers and families struggling with the daily challenges of living alongside Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Since our founding in 2013, we have raised more than $1.2M to provide innovative programming opportunities that deliver compassionate, enduring, and life changing support services to patients, young caregivers, and families living with the challenges of ALS in New England.


The roots of our work can be traced back to November 6th 2009, the day our organization’s inspiration and namesake, Susan Ready Matthews, was

diagnosed with ALS. Over the next 17 months, our family became intimately

and painfully aware of how challenging and traumatizing daily life is

alongside ALS. From the loss of physical ability and introduction of

anticipatory grief, to the struggles with depression and need for around the

clock caregiving, Susan’s journey with ALS taught us about the many burdens levied on individuals and families following diagnosis, while strengthening our resolve to provide support to others impacted by the disease.


Since her passing on April 17th 2011, we have been working tirelessly to build on Susan’s legacy of service to ensure patients, young caregivers, and families can access life-enhancing support services and technologies to ensure they are best able to lead rich, meaningful, and productive lives. 

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Susan Ready Matthews and her son Ryan (photo taken in 1994).

The Specifics 

Our Board of Directors. From L to R: Mike Stankus, Aaron Smith, Lisanne O'Reilly, Chris Hershey, Neil Matthews, Andrew Shannon, Mandy Roberts, Ben Kozera, Eric Turmel, and Sam Grenus. 

From the Press

1

Jordan E. Grice, Citizen’s News - August 13th 2016

“The Susie Foundation hasn’t just drawn in individuals personally affected by the illness, but also those indirectly impacted. For Aaron Smith, The Susie Foundation’s chairman of the board, seeing one of his closest friends — Matthews — go through the loss of his mother at the hands of ALS inspired him to get involved. According to Smith, his involvement through the organization has only made his desire to serve stronger.”

2

Jordan E. Grice, Citizen’s News - August 13th 2016

“The Susie Foundation hasn’t just drawn in individuals personally affected by the illness, but also those indirectly impacted. For Aaron Smith, The Susie Foundation’s chairman of the board, seeing one of his closest friends — Matthews — go through the loss of his mother at the hands of ALS inspired him to get involved. According to Smith, his involvement through the organization has only made his desire to serve stronger.”

3

Angie DeRosa, The Hartford Courant - July 23rd 2016

“After his mother died in April 2011, Matthews founded a non-profit organization, The Susie Foundation, to honor her memory and to help him heal. Since it officially launched in 2013, the foundation has raised more than $70,000...to provide support for ALS patients, their families, and their caregivers in Connecticut."

4

“Although The Susie Foundation has held numerous fundraisers in the past two years, the volunteer-run nonprofit recently took another step toward accomplishing its mission by launching its Flex Grant program, which awards financial reimbursement to qualified families.”

Jordan Otero, The Republican-American - March 1st 2015
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