S
ome people “put their roots down”
when they move to a new place.
Jacob Gottlieb put his roots
down in Metro Detroit’s Jewish com-
munity when he was born, has grown
within it and is here to stay
as a strong asset to the com-
munity.
Gottlieb, 32, was born and
raised in Metro Detroit and is a
graduate of Hillel Day School,
Frankel Jewish Academy and
University of Michigan.
Gottlieb is now the
chief advancement officer at JARC in
Bloomfield Hills, a nonprofit organiza-
tion that supports adults with develop-
mental disabilities in the home of their
choice. Throughout his time at JARC,
he has played various roles to support
the needs of the organization.
JARC receives 80% of its funding from
the government, which helps to provide
the essentials — staffing to support the
adults they serve, food, shelter, etc.
But that’s not the whole pie, and that
80% often isn’t enough. JARC fund-
raises the other 20% itself, and Gottlieb
leads that effort to make sure they raise
about $2 million a year.
“It’s filling the gap of stuff that
makes life worth living,” Gottlieb said.
“Activities, transportation, holiday cele-
brations, all the little extra stuff.”
One of Gottlieb’s proudest accom-
plishments took place last year on the
Jewish Federation’s Motor City Mission
to Israel.
JARC raised money to allow two
people JARC serves to go on that trip.
Gottlieb and another staff member,
Shira Woodside, also went on the trip
to provide staff support.
“It was truly so life-changing for
those adults visiting Israel for the first
time and, without JARC, wouldn’t have
been able to have that experience,”
Gottlieb said. “It was really satisfying
that we were able to raise that money
and experience it with them.”
Jacob Gottlieb is the chief advancement officer at JARC.
Here to Stay, Here to Help
Jacob
Gottlieb
DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
NEXT DOR
VOICES OF A NEW GENERATION
34 | JULY 11 • 2024
J
N
Brooke Dunn,
Shira Woodside,
Jacob Gottlieb
and Jonathan
Arens in the
North of Israel
Jacob Gottlieb at
JARC’s Ellen Labes
Festival Series
Carnival in 2023