The internationally renowned education and human services organization Green Chimneys will be celebrating, for one year, its birth 75 years ago when founder Samuel B. “Rollo” Ross Jr. discovered a farm house in Brewster with a green chimney and fulfilled his dream of providing a home and education for underprivileged children and displaced or donated animals who would care for each other.
The Green Chimneys”™ story is a long and wonderful adventure starting on Oct. 27, 1947 with the Ross family”™s purchase of a 75-acre dairy farm. At just 19 years old, inspired by childhood boarding school experiences and a genuine devotion to animals, Ross established an environment where children and animals could live together in a farm setting.
The marriage of Ross and Myra Mattes in 1954 cemented a lifelong partnership that played an important role in the growth of Green Chimneys as they became pioneers in the practice of animal-assisted activities as part of a child”™s education and emotional well-being. The integration of animals and nature grew into a core component of Green Chimneys”™ clinical approach, becoming a signature element in its special education and therapeutic treatment programs for children facing social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Today, Green Chimneys is a premier nonprofit and renowned therapeutic education and treatment facility for children with special needs. As a leader in animal-assisted and nature-based practices, Green Chimneys has achieved global recognition in education and advocacy for children with a unique focus on the human-animal connection. It is recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and educational activities for children with special needs.
