Welcome to Riverbrook
A place for exceptional women
As you open the front door, you enter into the life of a unique community. Light spills from the arched heights of a two-story window as women are purposefully engaged in the daily upkeep of their home. The morning begins with the chores of preparing breakfast, washing the night’s sleep away, and straightening rumpled beds. The women gather laundry, play radios and exchange gossip. Someone comforts a friend who is worried about a sick parent, and another reports that a lost sweater is found. These are ordinary occurrences in the daily life at Riverbrook.
Yet a quick glance around reveals that the ordinary routine in this setting is actually quite extraordinary. Each of these women has had a lifelong struggle learning to do these routine tasks. Each has been loved by families who cheered at every achievement, who understood the effort involved in moving towards each developmental milestone.
They have come to Riverbrook with unique experiences and a range of diagnoses and other forms of intellectual disability. Yet these diverse women have all found a place in this exceptional community.
Our Mission
Riverbrook empowers women with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead exceptional adult lives.
Our History
Our Location
Established in 1957, Riverbrook is the oldest all-women residence in the Northeast. Riverbrook is a model of care for women with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Vision and Hearing Impairments and other developmental challenges. The program is housed in a gracious historic mansion which began its life as a “Berkshire Cottage.” Designed by architect George deGersdorff and finished around 1912, Riverbrook was the lavish summer home of renowned painter and stained glass artist Frederic Crowninshield, whose son, Frank, was the first editor of Vanity Fair. In the early 1990s, Riverbrook’s first Executive Director, Joan Burkhard, purchased the property and began the work of expanding the program into the model of care that it has become. Riverbrook Residence Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit in 1996.
Residents live on an estate of great natural beauty, in a large and gracious house built for an artist at the turn of the 20th century and the detached semi-independent living cottage. The grounds feature vegetable and flower gardens designed to be accessible to disabled gardeners, as well as an in-ground swimming pool, and many outdoor spots to sit and enjoy the spectacular views. The neighbors are artists, business owners, retirees, and town employees; their quiet neighborhood on Ice Glen is a natural wonder and a destination for hikers from around the world. The quaint, thriving town of Stockbridge and the whole of the Berkshires beyond forms a welcoming backdrop for the business of everyday life, from banking and library errands to dinner out and a night at the theater.
Natural & cultural resources in the area:
Skiing at Butternut
Dance Performances at Jacob’s Pillow
Concerts at Tanglewood
Hiking at Monument Mountain
Historical Museums
Theater at Shakespeare & Company
Riverbrook boasts a seasoned staff of 42 members with a collective 237 years of experience working not just in the field but directly with Riverbrook’s residents. The women benefit from this level of support, safety and stability rare in residential and day programs for people with disabilities. Riverbrook’s administrative offices are located on-site, so program administrators are present and active in the daily lives of the women they serve.
Senior Management Team
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Rebecca Amuso, RN
Executive Director
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Karen Carlotto
Controller
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Jen Schoonmaker, RN
Clinical Program Director
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Colleen Powers, MS
Day Program Director
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Ruth Hanley
ISP & Human Rights Manager
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Sheila Anderson
Residential Supervisor
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Joan Burkhard
Founder
As a Non-Profit Organization, Riverbrook’s success is guided by a deeply committed Board of Directors who come from diverse backgrounds to ensure the program’s long-term viability. The board includes resident and family representation, local business expertise, and leadership in the fields of nursing, special education, financial management and more. Ever mindful of the needs of our residents, board members are frequent visitors and we are grateful for their generous spirits.
Board of Directors
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Jackie Stores Iovieno, PhD
Chair
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Lynn Barry
Vice Chair
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Ron Fontana
Board Treasurer
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Max Scherff
Secretary
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Susan Booth
Resident Board Member
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Matthew Chester, JD, CFP®
Board Member
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Ann C. Jones, Esq
Board Member
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Jorja Marsden
Board Member
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Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP
Board Member
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Charlotte Rodgers, RN, MA, CCM
Board Member
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Michael Sternick, Esq
Board Member
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Lorita Trombly
Board Member
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Gretchen West
Board Member
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Rebecca Wolin
Board Member
Help Ensure Riverbrook's Future
To learn about philanthropic opportunities, stock donations or legacy giving,
contact Sarah, Riverbrook’s Marketing & Development Manager, at
413-298-4926.
Contact Us
info@riverbrook.org
(413) 298-4926
4 Ice Glen Road
PO Box 478
Stockbridge MA 01262
