QNE_p086

QC04302015

66 The Queens Courier • buzz • APRIL 30, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com Special happening for special people Dynamic $1000 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 victoria’s secrets tweet me @vschneps After years of planning, the clear blue cloudless skies and bright sun shone down warmly on the hundred people gathered to officially open the Family Center for Autism that Life’s Worc created with the help of its great benefactor Geraldo Rivera. There was Geraldo, who had raised $725,000 for Life’s Worc from his courageous “Celebrity Apprentice” appearances. Even though he was not declared its winner, he in fact raised more than any other contestant and, of course, in my book is the biggest winner of all on many levels. Geraldo was there this past sunny Saturday morning with his beautiful wife Erica and delicious and gorgeous 9-yearold daughter Sol to cut the ribbon on the new center. It serves young people in the autism spectrum with “classes” on the weekends, holidays and afternoons, similar to the ones you would find at a Y but staffed with people specifically trained to meet their needs. For example, in the art room, for every three members, there is one trained teacher. I saw the music class with the teachers prompting the children to touch their toes, t o u c h their nose to the music. The therapist was helping each child to achieve that goal, which is a milestone for those gathered in the circle of music. It made me cry to see the joy on each child’s face as they successfully followed the musical directions. Miracles are made within the walls of the center and parents are given a chance to talk with other parents or grab a sandwich at a deli that our staff arranged discounts with so the family members could be near the center but take a break. During the opening remarks for the center, I was reminded that one in 60 children is born in the autism spectrum. A shocking number! I believe we must move our leaders. It must be a call to action, to find a cure for this overwhelmingly devastating disease. If we are a nation good enough to find a vaccine for polio, our federal government must coordinate all the research going on and set it as a priority. So many families have been decimated by their loved ones’ diagnosis and now many of the children in the spectrum of autism are “aging out,” turning 21 when all programs end. Families become prisoners in their homes. We cannot allow this. Stay tuned. Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, Vicki Schneps, Geraldo’s 9-year-old daughter Sol, Geraldo Rivera, donor Rick Del Mastro and Life’s WORC Executive Director Janet Koch Angela Susan Anton of the Anton Media Group with Geraldo Rivera 2015 Life’s WORC Golf Outing Honoree & First Vice President of People’s United Bank Steven G. Santino, and Life’s WORC Executive Director Janet Koch and Geraldo Rivera in front of the Life’s WORC Autism Quilt Assistant Director of Operations at Life’s WORC Neil Schweifel, Geraldo Rivera and Life’s WORC Executive Director Janet Koch Geraldo Rivera with his wife Erica and daughter Sol Geraldo Rivera with the Life’s WORC Family Center for Autism team Geraldo Rivera with CJ Ramone and his family Photos by Kelly Marie Mancuso Kiera McCourt and First Vice President of People’s United Bank, Steven G. Santino


QC04302015
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