irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $5.33MLIFE'S WORC OPERATES 6 DAY HABILITATION PROGRAMS SUPPORTING 238 INDIVIDUALS IN PROGRAMS LOCATED THROUGHOUT QUEENS, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES IN NY. THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAILY LIVING SKILLS LEADING TO GREATER LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE AND WORK READINESS SKILLS, PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
- #2 $1.23MLIFE'S WORC PROVIDES COMMUNITY HABILITATION (FORMERLY REFERRED AS IN-HOME RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION) WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORTS TO APPROXIMATELY 76 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT QUEENS, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES IN NEW YORK. COMMUNITY HABILITATION IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE WITH THEIR FAMILY NEEDED SUPPORTS AND ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Habilitation
Provides in-home supports to approximately 76 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism, helping them develop independent living skills while residing with family.
Community Habilitation - Residential (CH-R)
Provides day habilitation services in certified residential settings for individuals unable to transport to day programs; funded by OPWDD during and after the pandemic.
Day Habilitation Programs
Operates six day habilitation programs supporting over 200 individuals in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, focusing on daily living and work readiness skills for high school graduates and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Pooled Trust Program
Offers Self-Settled, Third-Party, and Surplus Income Pooled Trusts to help individuals with disabilities protect assets while maintaining eligibility for Medicaid and SSI.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Residential Support for Developmental Disabilities 2 activities
- Community Habilitation ServicesProvides individualized Community Habilitation services to approximately 76 children and adults residing with their families, and Community Habilitation – Residential services to about 180 individuals in certified residential settings, supporting skill development and independent living for those unable to attend day programs due to transportation or capacity restrictions.
- Residential Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental DisabilitiesOperates 50 residential homes across Manhattan, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, providing direct support services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in certified residential settings. The organization expanded to 50 homes in 2021 after approval of five new residences.
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Supplemental Needs Trust Management 2 activities
- Pre-Funeral Arrangements and Burial FundingEnables Medicaid and SSI-eligible trust beneficiaries to pre-fund funeral and burial expenses through irrevocable pre-need funeral agreements and the Cooperative Funeral Fund, preserving benefit eligibility while allowing flexibility in choosing funeral homes.
- Special Needs Trust AdministrationAdministers Individual Supplemental Needs Trusts and a Pooled Trust program with over $9.2 million in assets, offering professional trust management, trustee services, and legal administration to help individuals with disabilities preserve eligibility for Medicaid and SSI while funding supplemental needs such as medical costs, living expenses, and recreation.
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Day Habilitation Services 1 activity
- Day Habilitation ProgramsOperates six site-based and community-based Day Habilitation programs serving 238 individuals in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, focused on developing daily living, socialization, and work readiness skills for high school graduates and young adults with developmental disabilities and autism.
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Autism and Neurodiversity Family Support Services 1 activity
- Family and Community ProgramsOffers inclusive classes, activities, and programs through The Family Center for Autism, opened in April 2015, and supports at-home skill development, behavioral intervention, and social recreation for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
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Respite Care for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Respite and Family Support ServicesProvides Respite and Family Support services offering recreational and social programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while supporting family caregivers through relief and community engagement opportunities.
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Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Supported Employment ServicesDelivers customized Supported Employment Services including pre-vocational training, employment training, and vocational rehabilitation to help individuals with developmental disabilities and autism achieve competitive employment.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advocacy for Disability RightsOrganized volunteer pickets in 1971 advocating for the rights of over 5,000 residents at Willowbrook State School, marking a foundational advocacy effort in the organization’s history.
- WORC Force Community Center DevelopmentDeveloping the WORC Force Community Center, set to open in 2024, to expand skills training and vocational opportunities for individuals with disabilities and the broader community.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$71.64M
Contributions & grants$18K0%
Program service revenue$70.35M98%
Investment income$477K1%
Other revenue$794K
expenses
Total expenses$70.85M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$55.98M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$47.93M
Cash$7.40M
Investments$10.19M
Liabilities$21.34M
Net assets$26.58M
Liquid reserves3.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +9.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 13
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL K BILLIA | CEO | 38 | $489K |
| JENNY ANTONY | CFO | 38 | $291K |
| MATTHEW P ZEBATTO | FORMER CEO/Consultant | 38 | $276K |
| JOHN PFEIFER | CHIEF CLINICAL | 38 | $269K |
| ROBERT WHITE | CHIEF PEOPLE | 38 | $269K |
| LAUREN ACCOVELLI | CHIEF OF RES | 40 | $228K |
| MELINA MADAIA | SR. VP NURSING | 40 | $192K |
| JENNIFER A GILLEN | VP OF NURSING | 40 | $181K |
| DENISE M MATOS | SR VP QUALITY-COMP-TRAN | 40 | $167K |
| JUDEEN FARQUHARSON | RESIDENCE MGR | 40 | $164K |
| ANDREA K DIVITA | SR VP RESIDENTIAL SVCS | 40 | $163K |
| GABRIELLA M VEREEN | VP OF NURSING | 40 | $161K |
| DAVID P WICKSTROM | VP INFORM TECHN-SECURITY | 40 | $156K |
board members · 12
- BEN FILINGERI — DIRECTOR
- DARREN ALFANO — TREASURER
- DAVID FELDMAN — DIRECTOR
- DAWN DEL MASTRO CHRUMA — DIRECTOR/VICE CHAIR (AS OF 03/2025)
- EDMOND O'DONNELL — DIRECTOR
- GARY DUFF — DIRECTOR (THRU 05/2025)
- GREGORY J POND ESQ — DIRECTOR (THRU 12/2024)
- JOHN LEE — SECRETARY (THRU 03/2025)
- JOHN MURN — DIRECTOR
- JUSTIN RESNICK — DIRECTOR
- LYNNE KOUFAKIS — CHAIRMAN (THRU 03/2025)
- PETER J KLEIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Partner — Membership supports employment integration initiatives for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Cooperative Funeral Fund Partner — Partner organization used by Life's WORC trust beneficiaries to pay for pre-funeral arrangements.
- Department of Labor Government — Representative from the Department of Labor visited Life's WORC programs.
- Geraldo Rivera Partner — Recognized through naming of the Rivera residence in honor of his investigative reporting on Willowbrook State School.
- Interagency Council Partner — Collaborates through committee participation including the Residential Committee, Adult Day Services, Individualized Community Supports, Membership, and Quality Assurance Committees.
- Key Private Bank Partner — Financial partner responsible for professional management of trust assets in collaboration with Life's WORC.
- Life’s WORC Trust Network — Specialized trust services unit within Life's WORC providing financial and trust management.
- Medicaid Government — Administers trusts in compliance with Medicaid rules to preserve beneficiaries' eligibility for home care and other services.
- NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Government — Agency responsible for receiving abuse reports and overseeing protection of people with special needs; contact information provided by Life's WORC
- New York Alliance for Community and Inclusion Partner — Participates in committees to advance community inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
- New York Integrated Network for Persons with Disabilities Partner — Engages in network activities to support service coordination for people with disabilities.
- New York State Association of Day Service Providers (NYSADSP) Partner — Participates in state-level advocacy and standards development for day services, with leadership role as membership director.
- OPWDD Government — Funds Community Habilitation – Residential services for individuals unable to attend day habilitation programs due to transportation or pandemic-related restrictions.
- OPWDD Government — State agency requiring annual sharing of incident management and reporting information with families
- Social Security Administration Government — Structures trusts to comply with SSI resource limits, ensuring beneficiaries maintain eligibility for Social Security benefits.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Individualized, Goal-Directed Supportmethodology: individualized_supportBy designing services around specific personal objectives, LIFE'S WORC increases the effectiveness of support for people with developmental disabilities, because individualized planning leads to more meaningful outcomes in independence and productivity.
- Person-Centered Support Modelmethodology: person-centered_supportBy using a person-centered approach, LIFE'S WORC tailors services to the unique goals and needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, because this autonomy and individualization fosters greater independence, meaning, and engagement in daily life.
- Pooled and Supplemental Needs Trusts for Benefit Preservationmethodology: supplemental-needs-trustBy using pooled and supplemental needs trusts, LIFE'S WORC enables individuals with disabilities to access additional financial resources for care and living expenses without losing eligibility for Medicaid or SSI, because these trusts are structured so assets and income do not count toward public benefit limits.