Long Island’s JKW Live Well Foundation Awards Samaritan Daytop Village $25,000 Grant
Long Island’s JKW Live Well Foundation Awards Samaritan Daytop Village $25,000 Grant to Expand Music and Technology Programs at The Daytop Preparatory School
Grant Strengthens Recovery-Focused Education for Adolescents Experiencing Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Challenges
Foundation Honors Memory of Bay Shore’s Joseph Keenan Walser, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 20
(LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK) – March 13, 2026 – Samaritan Daytop Village today announced it has received a $25,000 grant from the JKW Live Well Foundation to expand hands-on music and technology programming at The Daytop Preparatory School on Long Island. The funding will grow the school’s music offerings to include DJing and music production and introduce robotics and coding instruction using LEGO-based technology. This investment equips Samaritan with the resources to deepen student engagement at the school, helping young people in recovery build confidence and stay connected to their education and their recovery journeys.
The Daytop Preparatory School, located in Huntington Station, serves 12 adolescents ages 15-19 who have struggled in traditional school settings due to substance use disorder, trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions. For more than 25 years, the New York State-licensed private school has bridged academics and treatment through a social learning model that integrates education with clinical care. Students also receive treatment through Samaritan Daytop Village’s Suffolk County Outpatient Treatment Program, ensuring academic progress and recovery move forward together.
“This grant allows us to meet students where they are and build on their strengths,” said Diane Gabriel, Business Education Manager at The Daytop Preparatory School. “Many of our students have experienced setbacks in traditional classrooms. When they step into a music studio or sit down to build and code a robot, they’ll begin to see that they are capable, creative, and resilient. That confidence carries into their recovery, their academics, and their future goals.”
The JKW Live Well Foundation was established to honor the life and legacy of Joseph K. Walser, a young man from Bay Shore, Long Island, who died from Fentanyl poisoning. The Foundation invests in programs that promote health, hope, and opportunity for young people and families in the community.
For more information about JKW Foundation and upcoming events, please visit https://jkwlivewell.org/.
“The JKW Live Well Foundation is proud to support this meaningful program at the Daytop Preparatory School in Joe’s honor and memory,” said John and Kathleen Walser, founders of the JKW Live Well Foundation. “When we established the Foundation, one of our goals was to support adolescents in our community who are struggling with mental health challenges and addiction. The work of Samaritan Daytop Village throughout the Metropolitan Area reflects that mission in a powerful way. On Long Island, the Daytop Preparatory School provides a compassionate, judgment-free environment where students can learn, build confidence, and discover talents and interests they may not have known they had. We are grateful to partner with Samaritan Daytop Village as they help young people strengthen their self-esteem and move forward on a path toward recovery and hope.”
Research shows that creative, hands-on learning can play a meaningful role in creating the atmosphere needed for long-term recovery. Music-based interventions are associated with positive emotional change and greater engagement in treatment. Studies have also linked structured music activities to reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress, as published in the National Library of Medicine. When adolescents are given safe, supportive spaces to express themselves and work collaboratively toward a goal, they build emotional regulation, persistence, and self-esteem—factors that strengthen recovery. By expanding music production and introducing robotics and coding, The Daytop Preparatory School is creating structured opportunities for students to strengthen these important skills.
“For young people in recovery, feeling engaged in school can be transformative,” said Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village. “When students discover a talent or master a new skill, they start to see themselves differently. They build confidence. We are deeply grateful to the JKW Live Well Foundation for investing in our students and helping us expand opportunities to empower the youth we serve.”
To learn more about The Daytop Preparatory School, visit: https://www.samaritanvillage.org/get-support/alternative-education/
ABOUT SAMARITAN DAYTOP VILLAGE:
For 65 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers facing adversity. We are nationally recognized for our treatment of substance use disorder as well as for the veteran-specific approach we pioneered. Our continuum of services includes health and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families, and seniors. Annually, Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 43,000 people at more than 80 programs throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
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