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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APRIL 1-7, 2022
BXR
ness and sunlight to a system in
desperate need. And, with the
innovation of trained care professionals
and the leadership
of Schneps on the issue, Life’s
WORC launched the state’s
first-ever group home for children
with special needs in Little
Neck, Queens — with half of
the residents coming from Willowbrook
and others from the
Queens community. This facility
would soon become a model
used across the state for humane
and adequate care for this vulnerable
population.
“Following the lawsuit, it
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 said. “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 stated,
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 slated
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
said, “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 continued. “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 said 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 added. “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
amNew 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,
Fla.
Vicki said 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 said. “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 concluded.
“That is my mission, and
I am proud of all those who work
with me towards this goal.”
From left, Elizabeth, Lara and Victoria Schneps.
Geraldo Rivera