More than a half century ago, two Chattanooga businessmen devoted their lives to serving their community and reaching out to people with disabilities. Today, their legacy lives on at Siskin Children’s Institute.
In 1942, Garrison Siskin suffered a life-threatening injury, and surgeons told him that his leg would have to be amputated. He prayed to God that if his leg were spared, he would dedicate the rest of his life to helping others. The next morning, his prayers had been answered.
When Mose learned of the vow, he told his brother, “If it’s your promise, it’s my promise, and we will keep it together.” They established the Siskin Foundation in 1950; and nine years later, they opened a rehabilitation center to provide outpatient services, including physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and even free dental care.
A highlight of the facility was a preschool for young children with physical disabilities and developmental delays. Long before laws were passed to guarantee that children with disabilities must have the right to education, Mose and Garrison Siskin developed programs to educate children with special needs.
Today, their commitment to helping children with disabilities continues at Siskin Children’s Institute, which is dedicated to making life better for children with special needs and their families
Visit the timeline outlining the Siskin family’s philanthropic work and key events in the history of Siskin Children’s Institute.
