JUNE 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 73
SCENE & SEEN
GERALDO RIVERA AND SEAN HANNITY JOIN SUPPORTERS
COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS OF LIFE’S WORC
Sean Hannity and Geraldo Rivera kicked off the 33rd Annual Geraldo Rivera Golf Classic, joined by honorees Peter Klein, E. Christopher Murray, Janet Koch, Lynne Koufakis,
Erica Rivera, and Victoria Schneps-Yunis. (Photo by Bruce Adler)
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
Golfers at the Old Westbury Golf and
Country Club had a chance to tee off
with well-known broadcasters Geraldo
Rivera and Sean Hannity on May 17 at
the 33rd Annual Geraldo Rivera Golf
Classic to celebrate Life’s WORC 50th
anniversary.
“We’ve had an unusual year or more and
we’ve not been able to have any events,
so for people to come together like this
and support our cause, we thank you
all from the bottom of our hearts,” said
Janet Koch, the organization’s CEO.
The organization was founded in 1971 by
Victoria Schneps-Yunis—the founder of
Schneps Media, the parent company of
the Long Island Press—whose daughter,
Lara, was diagnosed with severe brain
damage when she was a child. Schneps’
daughter was one of the 5000 residents
at Willowbrook State School in Staten
Island which was filled to capacity and
poorly run, with terrible living conditions
that got worse after the state cut
funding to the facility.
As an up-and-coming reporter in 1972,
Rivera, did extensive investigative
reporting on the deplorable conditions
of the institution. He also interviewed
Schneps on her experiences as a vocal
advocate for the residents’ rights and
better treatment for people with developmental
disabilities, and the story
gained national attention.
Since then the organization has opened
group homes across Queens, providing
educational and skill-building opportunities
for kids and teens. In the 2000s
the organization moved its headquarters
to Garden City and opened several
more homes in both Queens and Long
Island. Most recently, in 2015 Life’s
WORC opened the Family Center for
Autism where people can go to participate
in classes and programs, among
other social activities.
“Fifty homes have been opened with
wonderful opportunities in a great environment
with humane care and treatment,
with all the rights of any other
citizen of the United States,” said Rivera.
“It’s a miracle how far we’ve come. There
are so many bad news stories out there,
but this is a celebration.”
The daylong event included brunch,
golf, and later, a dinner reception with
speakers such as ALINE Wealth Chief
Investment Officer and founder, Peter
J. Klein, and Ruskin Moscou Faltischek,
P.C., Partner, E. Christopher Murray, to
commemorate the nonprofit’s 50 years
of advocating for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
Sean Hannity also addressed the crowd
on Monday, stating, “I want to thank
you all for what you do every day. All
of us, we do our thing and hopefully we
make the world a better place. Geraldo
Rivera has done so much for so many
and seeing this crowd today makes me
so happy.”
Geraldo Rivera addresses golfers at the outing. (Photo by Bruce Adler) Sean Hannity supports the golf outing each year. (Photo by Bruce Adler)
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