JARC Florida forms partnership to create radio station

Through a partnership, two organizations are aiming to launch a digital streaming radio station that would provide job opportunities for people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities in Palm Beach County.

JARC Florida (formerly Jewish Association for Residential Care) in Boca Raton has teamed up with the New York-based Sophia’s Mission’s NEWHD Media with the intention of launching the joint venture, NEWHD-Palm Beach County.

JARC FL provides group homes, apartments and vocational training for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Sophia’s Mission provides job opportunities for those living on the autism spectrum and other related disabilities, as well as support for primary care givers and family members.

Jeffrey Zirulnick, CEO of JARC, said, “The goals of this partnership for JARC are to increase awareness for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and create employment opportunities to provide for dignity and pride for our clients.”

NEWHD currently operates NEWHD, NEWHD-LA and VNUE Radio. NEWHD-PBC would launch within 60 days of securing an underwriting sponsor.

Chuck Bortnick, president and founder at AIDEM Group LLC.,a consultant for the radio station that’s trying to make the project come to life, said, “This partnership will provide competitive paying employment with training for applicable special needs individuals.”

“This can result in life-changing experiences for JARC clients and their families,” Bortnick continued.

When asked about the goals for the partnership, Bortnick responded, “Complimenting JARC’s goals of supporting its clients with job opportunities and training to have active lives.”

“For NEWHD, bringing their special station, with localization to Palm Beach County, will be a key expansion in launching NEWHD stations throughout the US, all staffed with special needs individuals,” he continued.

Bortnick said the station will stream throughout the United States, and be available through a dedicated app, the JARC and NEWHD sites as well as through the streaming distribution platform TuneIn.

“However, the goal, is for 80 percent of the on-air announcers to be people with special needs from Palm Beach County,” he continued.

Zach Martin, founder and CEO of Sophia’s Mission, feels the launch of the station will happen.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for people who need it the most,” Martin said. “I would like to see this launched before the end of this year, but it all hinges upon the ability to raise the funds to make it happen.”

Martin said regarding the radio station, “I think it’s going to be exciting and it will change the world for people.”

“It’s inclusive,” he said. “For people who end up disc jockeying on NEWHD-Palm Beach County, it will change their lives and it will make them feel so good about themselves.”

Martin continued, “Bottom line is that no matter who you are and where you come from, you want to feel valued.”

“You want to feel accepted and you want to be included. Value, acceptance and inclusion really sums up what we’re all thriving for in life.”

Martin said the partnership will open up more doors, raise awareness and build communities throughout the country that are based upon the JARC model.

Zirulnick said, “This partnership will open new doors for our JARC clients and demonstrate to them, their families and the community at large how much an adult with a developmental and/or intellectual disability can actually accomplish.”

Contact Bortnick at 203-770-2416 or cb@aidemgroup.com for more information on underwriting sponsorship opportunities.

Visit newhdmedia.com for more information on NEWHD-PBC, and jarcfl.org or sophiasmissionus.org for the partnering organizations.

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