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COURIER LIFE, APRIL 1-7, 2022
Victoria Schneps protesting the conditions at Willowbrook State School. File photo
paved the way for new laws on
the books to allow for a new
concept, embraced by the care
providers of this vulnerable
community, known as group
homes,” Schneps says. “We laid
the groundwork to revolutionize
the industry, bringing dignified
care to these individuals,
while leaving the large-scale
wards in the past. What this did
was, it allowed group home settings
to become lifetime homes
for individuals with special
needs, with peers and friends,
activities and recreation. When
we purchased the first group
home, there was resistance in
the community, and we won the
case in Queens Supreme Court
that ruled that group residences
have rights to be in R1 and R2
residential neighborhoods.”
The state now funds group
home settings, where qualified
and certified caregivers with
expertise, knowledge, education
and training all contribute
to the quality-of-life and independence
focused care model.
“Our biggest challenge, on
the industry-wide level, is continuing
to fight for New York
State to properly staff and fund
group homes,” Schneps states
about where advocacy has been
most impactful of late. “Many
people in our community involve
intense, personal care,
which is costly, but critical.
Group residences provide a
warm home, where individuals
can take pride in the progress
they are making on a daily basis,
and expand their personal
horizons.”
While her involvement
may have started 50 years ago,
the advocacy continues for
Schneps, whose life has been
dedicated to bringing support
for Life’s WORC. In recognition
of her efforts, Life’s WORC will
be honoring Schneps at their
50th Anniversary Celebration
Gala scheduled for April 1,
alongside Geraldo Rivera. The
sold-out, star-studded gala is
slated to take place at the Garden
City Hotel.
Funding has poured in from
many of New York’s most notable,
including but not limited
to a $50,000 donation from honoree
Rivera and his current and
former Fox News Channel colleagues.
Top-rated news anchor
Sean Hannity donated $50,000,
as did former host Bill O’Reilly.
Various other Long Islanders
and New Yorkers have opened
their wallets, and their hearts,
to give to a cause that continues
to thrive after five decades
of changing lives for the better.
Also contributing the maximum
donations are the Koufakis
family, the Rogan family,
Subaru of America and the
Manes Peace Prize Foundation.
“Life’s WORC has become my
life’s work, literally,” Schneps
says, “preventing atrocities like
Willowbrook from ever happening
again. It takes vigilance, it
takes a commitment of a whole
community, and it takes the
generosity of those who are
willing to support our cause.
The support that Life’s WORC
has gotten for our 50th Anniversary
Gala is more than just
overwhelming and humbling,
but a statement that we remember
Willowbrook, and we care
to make sure that this never
happens again.
“This 50th Anniversary Gala
is really a celebration of people
living with dignity in this vulnerable
community, in comparison
with what happened in the
past,” she continues. “It’s a celebration
of a new chapter that began
with the bravery and courage
of a few, and the dedication
of many more to make sure that
what happened in the past is
never forgotten.”
Schneps says that Life’s
WORC now operates 50 group
residences, day programs and
family centers for those with autism,
and will soon open a jobtraining
employment center.
“The Family Center for Autism
in Garden City is offering
art classes, music classes, cooking
classes — all things that
develop life skills for individuals,”
Schneps adds. “At our family
centers, we are helping not
just those with autism and special
needs, but also their families,
with counseling and other
resources.”
Schneps is now a community
newspaper publisher, owning
and operating 88 newspapers
in the New York metropolitan
area, with her son, Josh
Schneps. That began in 1985
with her flagship publication
The Queens Courier, but now
includes such papers as am-
New York Metro, the Long Island
Press and Dan’s Papers,
serving New York City, Long
Island, Westchester and Rockland
counties, Philadelphia and
Palm Beach County.
Schneps says her inspiration
to join the news media was
the reporting done by Geraldo
nearly five decades ago, which
gave a voice to the voiceless
and taught her the power of the
press in affecting change.
“I found purpose in publishing,”
Schneps says. “Our publications
are the beacons of reporting
by which New Yorkers
and people around the world
gather information and make
informed decisions, find opinions
and become inspired to act.
“While I see this as my job,
my love and devotion is, and will
always be, helping people with
developmental disabilities and
autism overcome challenges and
live fulfilling lives,” she concludes.
“That is my mission, and
I am proud of all those who work
with me towards this goal.”