"My daughter doesn't walk, and she doesn't talk. But during her first year at Matheny, the recreation department told me they wanted to take her camping. I said, 'You've got to be kidding!' They always think outside the box."

Liz Geraghty of Cranford, who is president of The Friends of Matheny, was describing her daughter Bozena's experience at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center to a crowd of more than 100 people attending Oktoberfest, a casual evening of celebration by The Friends to benefit Matheny students and patients. The Friends of Matheny is an auxiliary group that has raised more than $3 million for Matheny since 1983. Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Guests at the event, held Friday, October 5, at Vliettown Farm in Oldwick, enjoyed German food and music and made extra contributions to Matheny by buying raffle tickets, bidding in the silent auction and purchasing special Community Connections packages to fund activities for Matheny's students and patients in the community such as the previously-mentioned camping trips, as well as attendance at concerts and sporting events and the opportunity to dine out in restaurants.