Our Founder

New Pond Farm
Connecting People to the Land that Enriches and Sustains Us All

Our Founder, Carmen Sylva Mathews

The Actress

Carmen Sylva Mathews was born in Philadelphia, graduated from Bennett Junior College majoring in drama and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She made her first professional acting appearance with the Stratford-on-Avon Shakespearean Company before moving back to the United States. Early in her career, she performed many classical parts with Maurice Evans including Ophelia in Hamlet and Queen to his Richard II.

Her acting career spanned 55 years and ranged from premiering to great acclaim as Helen in Road to Mecca to being the Queen of Greenland in the musical In Fashion. She shared the stage with notables like Don Ameche in Holiday for Lovers, Alfred Drake in Gigi, Angela Lansbury in Dear World and Joanne Woodward in Children's Hour.

She appeared in countless television plays and movies and is still seen in reruns as Col. Lillian Rayburn in a popular episode of M.A.S.H. Her last role was in The Last Best Year of My Life, a 1990 television movie directed by John Erman with Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters.

Her film credits also include Butterfield 8, Rage to Live, Sounder and Daniel.

To view a complete list of Carmen's work in theatre, click here.

To view a complete list of Carmen's television and movie roles, click here.

The Environmentalist and Philanthropist

Carmen's dream for New Pond Farm began in Africa in 1968. She was overwhelmed by the beauty of the country, and yet deeply saddened by the poverty she experienced there. The contrast between the magnificence of the wildlife and the humbleness of human life made a lasting impression on her. She developed a strong desire to do something for the inner city children here in the United States.