Life’s WORC, Family Center for Autism Gala Celebrates 50th Anniversary Honoring Founder Victoria Schneps and Emmy-winning Journalist Geraldo Rivera

Life’s WORC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides services for children with special needs and those on the autism spectrum, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala honoring its founder Victoria Schneps and Emmy award-winning journalist Geraldo Rivera at the Garden City Hotel on April 1.

It was Rivera’s passionate coverage in the early 1970s that activated the closing of the Willowbrook State School and ultimately led to the development of group homes and day programs in the community. Montauk’s Bill O’Reilly gave the keynote speech. More than 400 guests in attendance came from Manhattan to Montauk, the boroughs of New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk counties of Long Island to support the event.

Photography by Ed Shin and Marc S. Klein

1 Geraldo Rivera Bill OReilly 2022 04 02 04 20 47 — Geraldo Rivera and Bill O’Reilly

25 Bill OReilly keynote speakers and Geraldo Rivera honoree podium greeting 2022 04 02 04 17 38 — Bill O’Reilly (keynote speakers) and Geraldo Rivera (honoree) podium greeting

23 Jacquelyn Destasio Executive Assistant Schneps Media Victoria Schneps Brienne Doskoez Executive Publisher Schneps Media — Jacquelyn Destasio (Executive Assistant, Schneps Media), Victoria Schneps, and Brienne Doskoez (Executive Publisher, Schneps Media)

22 Matthew Sebato Acting Executive Director Lifes WORC MMM 7751 — Matthew Sebato, Acting Executive Director of Life’s WORC

20 John Buran President CEO Flushing Financial Corp Denise Buran Branch Manager HSBCMSL 0155MSL 0142 — John Buran (President, CEO of Flushing Financial Corp) and Denise Buran (Branch Manager of HSBC)

19 Geraldo Rivera Lifes WORC honoree MMM 7836 — Geraldo Rivera, Life’s WORC honoree

18 Geraldo Riveras daughter Solita Liliana Rivera giving a heartfelt speech MMM 7821 — Geraldo Rivera’s daughter, Solita Liliana, Rivera, giving a heartfelt speech

17 Lynn Koufakis Board Chair Life’s WORC Victoria Schneps Angelo Angerane CEO Hudson Regional Pharmacy — Lynn Koufakis (Board Chair, Life’s WORC), Victoria Schneps, and Angelo Angerane (CEO, Hudson Regional Pharmacy)

16 Geraldo Rivera Bruce Blakeman Nassau County Executive 2022 04 02 04 20 11 — Geraldo Rivera and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman

15 Erica Michelle Levy Solita Liliana Rivera Geraldo Rivera Bill OReilly MSL 0290 — Erica Michelle Levy, Solita Liliana Rivera, Geraldo Rivera, and Bill O’Reilly

14 Elizabeth Aloni Dino Diiorio — Elizabeth Aloni and Dino Diiorio

13 Josh Schneps Victoria Schneps Tracey Wells Schneps josh wifeMSL 0160 — Josh Schneps, Victoria Schneps, and Tracey Wells-Schneps

12 Geraldo Rivera Joan MacNaughton Associate Publisher Dans Papers Craig Rivera MSL 0300 — Geraldo Rivera, Joan MacNaughton (Associate Publisher, Dan’s Papers), and Craig Rivera

10 Bill OReilly keynote speaker MMM 7869 — Bill O’Reilly, keynote speaker

9 Ron Aghassi Treasurer Life’s WORC Board Michael Billia SVP Investors Bank Victoria Schneps MSL 0155 — Ron Aghassi (Treasurer of Life’s WORC Board), Michael Billia (SVP, Investors Bank), and Victoria Schneps

8 Tina Moreno Dir. of Development Lifes WORC — Tina Moreno (Dir. of Development at Life’s WORC)

7 Dr. Liat Jarkon Kevin OConnor CEO Dime Bank Joan MacNaughton Associate Publisher Dans Papers Terrie Magro Founder of Michael Magro Foundation 2022 04 02 04 16 34 — Dr. Liat Jarkon, Kevin O’Connor (CEO, Dime Bank), Joan MacNaughton (Associate Publisher Dan’s Papers), and Terrie Magro (Founder of Michael Magro Foundation)

5 Catherine Canadeo Ernie Canadeo CEO EGC Group IMG 4940 — Catherine Canadeo and Ernie Canadeo (CEO, EGC Group)

4 Peter Spalding Ali Jabbour Group Publisher Dans Papers Long Island Press Victoria Schneps President Schneps Media Bill OReilly — Peter Spalding, Ali Jabbour (Group Publisher, Dan’s Papers and Long Island Press), Victoria Schneps (President, Schneps Media), and Bill O’Reilly

3 Victoria Schneps Founder of Lifes Worc President Schneps Media MMM 7791 — Victoria Schneps, Founder of Life’s WORC, President of Schneps Media

2 Dr. Harvey Manes Manes American Peace Prize Foundation Victoria Schneps Image 47 Lifes WORC Gala — Dr. Harvey Manes (Manes American Peace Prize Foundation) and Victoria Schneps

For more scene & seen event photos visit longislandpress.com/category/scene-seen.

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