18 March 7 • 2019
jn
New Digs!
JARC relocates to
Federation building in
Bloomfi
eld Township.
L
ast Friday, March 1, JARC moved
its office into the Max M. Fisher
Federation Building on Telegraph
Road in Bloomfield Township. Although
not a Federation agency, the move allows
the agency to downsize and be in closer
proximity to other Jewish organizations
in the building.
JARC’
s Paul and Lois Katzman
Administration Building on
Northwestern Highway in Farmington
Hills, used by the organization since
2001, will be sold. JARC board pres-
ident Howard Luckoff
and the JARC
real estate committee are managing that
process.
JARC occupied 8,000 square feet
of that 20,000 square-foot three-story
building; its space in the Federation
building will be 3,300 square feet.
Twenty administrative employees will be
housed there.
“We will take advantage of Federation’
s
common spaces, conference rooms and
use the reception area in the lobby as
well,
” said Shaindle Braunstein, JARC
CEO. The agency, which serves 200 indi-
viduals with developmental disabilities in
80 locations, is celebrating its 50th anni-
versary this year.
“
As we look to the next 50 years, we
are confident this move ideally positions
the agency for the future” she said. “The
concept of office space has changed dras-
tically in the last 20 years with a move
from large, closed door spaces to open
shared spaces that allow for better com-
munication and creativity. JARC Board
Member Joanne Aronovitz lent her
design expertise to the project.
“JARC was a thought leader 50 years
ago in creating the model that allowed
adults with developmental disabilities
to live in and be a part of community,
and we believe we are continuing on
that path as we model workspace for
the human service agency of the next 50
years.
”
And, she says, “the opportunity to
collaborate with other community orga-
nizations is critical to our continued
growth.
”
Federation CEO Scott Kaufman said,
“Having the JARC management team in
the Max M. Fisher Federation Building
is a true win/win situation. There was
extra space available here, and they
needed far less square footage than their
current location. As a tenant, they will be
providing revenue while paying less in
overhead expenses.
“Beyond the economics, however, we
benefit from having a variety of Jewish
organizations co-located in the building,
such as Tamarack Camps, Hebrew Free
Loan and ORT, to name just a few. The
proximity creates opportunities for us
to work collaboratively on behalf of the
community we all serve.
”
The move was completed over the
weekend and the new office was open
Monday. ■
jews d
in
the
Rachel Wall, Jessica Tierney, Jenny Kabert
and Shaindle Braunstein on moving day.
LaFata Cabinets are manufactured
right here in Southeast Michigan
FREE In-Home
Estimates
Full Remodeling
Quality Custom
Cabinetry
Wish Upon a Teen is a national nonprof-
it organization that provides services and
opportunities for teens aged 12-20 with
life-altering medical problems, including
organ transplant, chemotherapy and ter-
minal illnesses. Wish Upon a Teen works
with seven hospitals in Michigan and
more than 70 across the U.S.
Each year, the organization holds
a prom for these teens, as they often
cannot attend their own prom at school
because of their health challenges. Wish
Upon a Prom provides hair and makeup,
prom dresses and suits, food, music and
hours of dancing for nearly 200 teens.
This year, prom will be on Saturday, May
18, at the Emagine Theater in Royal Oak.
The JCC Special Needs Department
is partnering with Wish Upon a Teen to
collect items for gift bags that teens (boys
and girls) receive at prom. To donate
new items for the gift bags, collection
boxes can be found in the JCC lobby as
well as in the Fitness Center through
May 10. On Monday, May 13, the items
will be assembled as gift bags.
Suggested items include nail polish,
fun socks, body lotion, earrings, candles,
water bottles, teen magazines, lip balms,
candy/gum/mints, baseball hats, ear
buds and grooming kits. Other opportu-
nities to be involved include sponsorship,
volunteering at prom and community
outreach. For details, contact Stephanie
Zoltowski, director of special needs, at
szoltowski@jccdet.org. ■
Help Make Prom Special for Special Teens