20 | JUNE 16 • 2022
M
ichigan-based nonprofit JARC
nominated Janis Shulman of
Farmington Hills to be our next
Volunteer of the Week for her dedication
and involvement with the organization
over the years. The nonprofit serves people
with developmental disabilities via group
homes, independent living support and
in-home respite care.
“Janis Shulman has been involved with
JARC for many, many years,
” said Jenny
Kabert, director of philanthropy at JARC.
“She is a board member, volunteer, chairs
multiple committees and is happy to help
however needed. She is very generous with
JARC and has multiple funds to help the
people we serve and our staff.
”
Shulman began dedicating her time
with JARC 16 years ago and currently sits
on the board of directors as one of its vice
presidents.
Shulman says JARC has become part
of her whole family’s life throughout the
years.
“My kids were introduced to JARC at
a young age,
” explained Shulman, who
stopped working as a social worker in
1983 to raise a family with her husband,
Larry Shulman. While she wasn’t working
full time, her passion to help others
didn’t go away. She says with her extra
time she started volunteering for various
organizations. “I had been involved
with ORT (a global Jewish educational
network). Since my kids started school, I
was also involved in volunteering in the
classrooms.
”
Larry, who used to be on the board
of JARC, introduced the family to the
organization, and it was history from there.
“We went to a Shabbat dinner at one of
the homes, a home that provides services
for men, and our kids had an incredible
opportunity to interact with these men
and got to learn so much about the
organization.
”
Shulman says she wasn’t super-involved
with JARC until her youngest son, Michael,
who was a senior at the time, asked her
what she was going to do once he headed
off to college. He suggested that she should
reach out to JARC.
“I didn’t even wait till he graduated.
Right away, I started in the development
department where they do fundraising and
outreach, and it was a perfect fit for me,
”
she said.
Shulman started volunteering frequently
at the organization’s office doing general
mailings, making calls, leading volunteers
and chairing multiple fundraisers.
Since 2008, Shulman has been on the
board of the directors and served on the
executive committee for many years.
Shulman says she started out as treasurer
and later became the vice president and
continues to hold that position.
“I’m involved in five committees, and I
co-chair two of them. It’s been a really nice
experience.
”
Shulman serves on JARC’s Culture
and in Engagement Committee, which is
focused on giving back to the staff.
“Our hope is to show the staff how
much we care because the staff is
everything. Without them, there would be
no JARC. There would be nobody to take
care of this incredible group of people who
need care.
”
JARC CEO Shaindle Braunstein added
that the nonprofit is thankful to have
Shulman around.
“Janis is the epitome of total selflessness
and has an overwhelming desire to help
others.
” Braunstein said. “We are beyond
blessed to have her as a part of the JARC
family.
”
Shulman says she loves being part of the
JARC organization and enjoys taking on
leadership roles, building relationships and
making JARC part of her own family.
“It’s become a very important part of my
life, working with the staff and the people
we serve, who are just the most special and
amazing group of people.
”
Shulman has worked on many projects
throughout the years.
“If they need somebody to do
something, they can always call on me.
And if there’s any way I can do it, I say yes,
”
she added.
If you would like to nominate someone to be
the next volunteer of the week, send a nomination
with a short paragraph telling us why to
socialmedia@thejewishnews.com.
Years of Dedication
Meet Janis Shulman, a longtime JARC volunteer.
RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR
OUR COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
Larry and
Janis
Shulman
Brian, Rachel, Rory and Hayes Shulman; Larry and
Janis Shulman; Blake, Julie and Ellie Roter; Michael
and Julie Shulman (with their dog Ruxbin)