Tickets Now Available for JARC's 18th Annual SpringElation Fundraiser and you "Otter" Get Them Fast!

JARC, an organization serving people with disabilities, presents its 18th annual SpringElation fundraiser, an all-inclusive family night at The Detroit Zoo on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

One of JARC’s largest annual fundraisers, drawing nearly 2,000 guests, the private evening at the Zoo includes a picnic dinner by Quality Kosher Catering and exclusive twilight access to many of the Zoo’s most popular attractions. New this year, guests will be able to “waddle on over” to the spectacular 33,000-square-foot Polk Penguin Conservation Center, home to more than 80 penguins. An underwater gallery with tunnels provides great views as the birds swim, soar, and deep-dive – something that is otherwise impossible to see, even in the wild.

Other Zoo favorites are the Cotton Family Wolf Habitat, the Carousel, and the Tauber Family Railroad. Children will enjoy numerous activities featuring a clue hunt with prizes, music and dancing provided by Star Trax and lots more for kids of all ages.

Event chair and JARC Board Member Joshua Jacobs shared, "SpringElation is about a beloved local resource, JARC, bringing the community together in a treasured local setting, the Detroit Zoo. It's about those springtime traditions: enjoying a picnic dinner, spending a beautiful evening outdoors, and catching up with friends -- all made better by supporting a great mission."

From Bob Blumenfeld, JARC's Chief Executive Officer, “SpringElation is truly a special event. Over the years, JARC has built a reputation for providing an exceptional quality of life for those we serve. Our ability to do so is credited to this community which, year after year, makes contributions totaling 30% of our annual operating budget! I'm inviting everyone to be part of this opportunity. While they are enjoying a great night out, they will also be helping to sustain JARC's mission of enriching the lives of those in our community with developmental disabilities.”

One JARC mom put it this way, "there are very few times during the year that I can take my entire family somewhere and actually belong – where people don't stare at us for being different, but smile at us for being special; where I don't have to worry about disturbing anyone's evening, and where my kids are what the event is all about, and everyone knows it!"

SpringElation supports JARC’s range of services for men, women, and children with disabilities, including autism and developmental delays. JARC provides neighborhood homes and independent living support for adults, enriching recreation and cultural experiences, in-home respite by trained caregivers for children with disabilities.

JARC’S SpringElation event is open to the public and ticket cost is $25 per guest (children under 2 are free). Individual Sponsorships start at $100 and Corporate Sponsorships begin at $1,500. For more information, to purchase tickets, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.jarc.org/events/2016springelation or call 248.538.6611. To volunteer at this year’s SpringElation, please contact Melissa Garrett, melissagarrett@jarc.org or 248.488.7541.

Quicken Loans is the official Presenting Sponsor of JARC’s 2016 SpringElation.

Based in Farmington Hills, Michigan JARC is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization serving people with disabilities. Adults with developmental disabilities are served in 58 residential settings in the community. JARC also provides services for children and adults living at home with their families, including in-home respite care and recreation services, advocacy, life planning, and social opportunities. For more information on JARC, please visit www.jarc.org or call 248.538.6611.