Special Report

ACHIEVING DREAMS

JARC at 40 from page 12

or lived together for years. They have their
rhythm and routines down, and pretty
much act like a family, with the normal
squabbling and teasing.
Jack Saffer moved in recently. "I love it
here he said. "We're one big happy family.
I like my room and the food, and I like my
roommate Michael [Rosen] :'
As in any family, their rooms reflect
their personalities. New Yorker Charles
Kushner has a photo of the Brooklyn
Bridge on his wall. Ruben Domnitch, who
is JARC's oldest resident at 85, hung his
parents' wedding photo. Ivan Rossman •
is an Elvis fan, and Michael likes James
Bond and old musicals. Jack is a diehard
Lions fan. [Robert Wakely was away, pre-
paring for surgery.]
All of them seem to have girlfriends
they see often from other JARC homes.
The Grand home, like other JARC group
homes, is staffed 24 hours a day. The guys
help cook meals and fix their lunches for
work. A calendar crammed with notes
helps Green keep everyone's work, medical
and social schedules straight.
"It's energizing; there's something new
every day:' Green said. "It's enriching to
help them realize dreams for their lives.
We do get on each other's nerves, but I'm
in love with these guys."
Early each morning they tune to dif-
ferent TV channels, then debate the one-
degree difference in the reported weather
temperature. "After they discuss which
movie star has died, they are off and roll-
ing," Green said.
Their lives are rich Jewishly. Every
Shabbat, Michael lights the candles and
Ruben says the prayers. They hold a

Passover seder each year, and recently 24
people came over for Rosh Hashanah. A
decorated sukkah is on the patio.

Where JARC Shines
Dan Collins of Orchard Lake visits his
older brother, Andy, regularly at his group
home in Farmington Hills. Sometimes he
goes alone; sometimes he brings his two
young children. His father, Mort, who lives
in West Bloomfield, was an early president
of JARC.
For seven years, Dan and his wife have
sponsored Andy's Super Bowl party. The
house is decorated and 40-50 people from
six or seven other group homes attend.
"JARC has done a very fine job of pro-
viding homes in neighborhoods for clients
to live very steady lives where they are part
of communities:' Collins said. "And JARC's
hiring practices are outstanding. Managers
and staff are very impressive, caring people
who do an excellent job of caring for the
people of JARC."
Keller said, "JARC has the most incred-
ible staff [250 employees]. The real meat of
JARC is that magic moment between the
person and the person providing their care.
JARC invests a lot in making its staff know
how valuable they are and how important
they are in what JARC does."
Jerry Provencal, MORC executive direc-
tor, agrees. He is a regional and national
expert in the field and cites JARC as a top-
notch organization on many levels.
"Within the program are a lot of indi-
vidual innovations, including the way they
take care of direct-care staff by recognizing
them formally, paying them more money
and looking out for their transportation

1996-2000:

JARC continues to
expand, creating a children's division

1991-1995:

JARC

needs:' he said.
"JARC is a very strong organization that
has a long history of broad commitment
and deep sense of compassion for people
with special needs. They are not just inter-
ested in providing service and moving
on; it's a lifelong commitment. They have
demonstrated over and over again they are
in for the long haul and to help in every
extent of life where it is needed. That's
pretty damn good."
Provencal also notes the Jewish commu-
nity's great commitment to JARC.
"As the spirit in the Jewish community
grew, it made JARC grow in popularity,"
he said. "When you can sell out the Fox
Theatre for a fundraiser and people know
why they are coming, that's pretty dynam-
ic. In 40 years, to get the community to
turn out and embrace the cause — that's
pretty phenomenal."

Jack Saffer and Michael Rosen are happy, caring roommates at JARC's Grand home
in West Bloomfield.

2005-2009:

Joyce
Keller retires as CEO

that includes a respite program and

after 30 years with

opens five more homes

a school inclusion program. JARC

JARC; Rick Loewenstein

and sends six residents

opens three new homes, including a

becomes its new chief

to Israel on Federation's

vacation home, while one home

executive. JARC builds

Miracle Mission in 1993.

suffers a fire with no injuries.

the first energy-efficient,

barrier-free group home

in the United States.

2001-2005:

Services to
IN and aging individuals are

enhanced. JARC launches

its Making Community

Connections initiative that

Jack Resnick on

Debbie Merin and Peggy

Federation's Miracle

Jones opted for JARC's

encourages developing genu-
ine, reciprocal relationships

Mission to Israel

independent living services

with those without disabilities.

14

October 8 • 2009

The Future
In 2008, after 30 influential years at
JARC, Joyce Keller retired. During her
tenure, JARC grew to include the Lama
and Samuel Shetzer Independent Living
Services Division serving 40 adults, the
Merle and Shirley Harris Children and
Family Division serving 425 families
(including an inclusion program for
children at local Orthodox day schools)
and plans for building of an eco-friendly
group home that is the nation's first. The
Nusbaum home dedication will be Oct. 20.
"I knew in my heart it was a good thing
for JARC to have a new vision and fresh pas-
sion," Keller said. "Nothing will ever replace
JARC in my heart. Someone else will take it
somewhere I can't even imagine."
Rick Loewenstein, who worked in
the food industry for 15 years and most
recently headed Gleaners Community
Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan,

"JARC helps people with
developmental disabilities
live with dignity, hope and
inclusion. Everyone has a
special gift, and JARC helps
brings that out in the people
it serves. We must remember
these are people who would have been
institutionalized not that long ago. Today,
we see them achieve things that would
once have been just a dream."

- Rob Nusbaum, current JARC president

"The strength of any
organization is its people,
and the JARC staff is
remarkable. In particular,
the people who work in JARC's
homes and programs show
dedication and
commitment that is second to none."

- Dan Gilbert, JARC past president