Yasin on the job selling baked goods to help the animals.

Matheny adult patient Yasin Reddick is an animal lover. So when he decided to hold a bake sale to raise money for a charity, the Humane Society was a natural choice. “He went through a list of charities,” says Meghan Walsh, a Matheny recreation therapist, “and chose the Humane Society because he really likes animals and wanted to help in any way that he could.”

Reddick planned the bake sale for about a month. He would independently ask staff members and peers for baked donations, and he baked his own homemade dog treats. Reddick raised $205. “It made me feel great and happy,” he says, “because it helped the animals!”

The Humane Society, the nation’s largest animal protection agency, helps animals by advocating for better laws to protect them, providing animal rescue and emergency response, and investigating cases of animal cruelty.

A sign promoting the fundraiser.

From left, Arts Access dance facilitator and Innovations dance instructor Heather Johdos, holding one of Yasin’s paintings; Yasin Reddick; and Deb Starker, president of the Madison Arts and Cultural Alliance.

Matheny student Yasin Reddick received a Kids For Kids Fine Arts Scholarship from the Dance Innovations Performance Foundation. The scholarship is presented to individuals with special needs to help pursue their interest in the arts.

Yasin is active in Matheny’s Arts Access Program, which enables people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators. Dance Innovations, located in Chatham, NJ, is a studio for dance and the performing arts. Its dance students often perform at Matheny.