Honoring Green Chimneys Founders Myra and Samuel B. Ross, Jr

Aging Deer Finds Companionship with Young Turkeys

August 4, 2020

April 17, 2017

To celebrate 70 years of Green Chimneys is to honor our roots. Founders Myra and Samuel B. Ross, Jr. have not only made serving children a family affair, they have relied on ingenuity and an unending pursuit of opportunities to transform a small dairy farm into a powerhouse nonprofit.

From the beginning, Dr. Ross knew that animals would be an essential part of the Green Chimneys community. Drawing on his own childhood “friends” – a dog, a rabbit and birds, to name a few – he understood the educational and therapeutic benefits of their presence well before human-animal interaction was a field. Mrs. Ross built the framework for assessing children and developing measurements to track their clinical needs and growth. And it’s at Green Chimneys where they raised their family, ensuring that the value of service to others was passed from one generation to the next, and on again.

Seven decades later, the Rosses continue to follow their calling, to help children with special needs. From leading admissions and spearheading fundraising efforts to meeting with families and providing sound counsel on Green Chimneys strategy, Mrs. and Dr. Ross have not only created an amazing foundation, their contributions are seen, felt and appreciated throughout the organization.

Join us in honoring the Rosses at the Green Chimneys Spring Gala on May 4 in New York City!

Barred Owl

This barred owl fell from his nest and ended up on the ground in New Paltz, NY where he was rescued and cared for but it was quickly apparent that he was severely disfigured. He had a twisted, crooked beak, his wing feathers weren’t fully developed and one eye was shut while the other did not look as it should. This was not a bird that could be released back into the wild. Green Chimneys wildlife specialists worked with a local veterinary hospital to improve the bird’s health and determined that the owl was totally blind in one eye and 80-90% blind in the other.