APRIL 1, 2022 www.qns.com RIDGEWOOD TIMES
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against the facility, in concert with the
American Civil Liberties Union. This
legal effort was successful, bringing
long-awaited justice to those involved.
“There was the hostility that we faced,
but thankfully, the parents association
of Willowbrook won the lawsuit,” said
Schneps.
The shutdown brought awareness 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 independencefocused
care model.
“Our biggest challenge, on the industrywide
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 job-training
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 l. to r.) Elizabeth, Lara and Victoria Schneps.
Victoria Schneps Geraldo Rivera
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