Green Chimneys’s 2012 Gala

Approximately 300 guests gathered at Tappan Hill Mansion for Green Chimneys’s 2012 Seeds of Inspiration gala to celebrate those committed to helping youth grow and achieve. The evening raised $250,000 for Green Chimneys’ education and animal-assisted therapy programs for children with special needs.
The event honored philanthropist and entrepreneur Bobby Dekeyser, founder of the Dekeyser&Friends Foundation, which supports and operates the Dekeyser&Friends Academy, an educational institution that connects young people with experiential learning and mentoring.
Additional honorees included Donald Ross, actor Jay O. Sanders, and Barbara Kaplan, former dean of Sarah Lawrence College.
The night’s speakers included 2011 Green Chimneys’s graduate Rick DiRenno, who expressed his appreciation for the school, and then surprised the crowd with a personal donation.