---
title: "Siblings In The Spotlight: How Family Bonds Power JARC’s Summer Fundraiser After Budget Cuts"
description: Cocktails for JARC champions family-led advocacy and community support, funding essential services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Florida
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-09-11T12:39:00.000Z
updated: 2026-09-24T22:52:03.075Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/siblings-in-the-spotlight-how-family-bonds-power-jarc-s-summer-fundraiser-after-budget-cuts
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/cug2tkmhv4.jpg
categories: Philanthropic Minds
content_type: News
region: Florida
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
---

When Jordyn Gechter thinks about this year’s Cocktails for JARC event, she knows her sister depends on what happens next. As someone whose sister lives with special needs, Gechter understands what happens when the systems designed to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities start to crumble. This year’s fundraiser, happening 19 August at the groovy new Good Night John Boy venue in Delray Beach, carries urgency that previous years didn’t have – because the safety net just got a lot smaller.

The 1970s-themed celebration promises disco balls and retro cocktails, but behind the fun lies serious work. With state funding for vocational training programmes slashed by nearly 75% in Florida’s 2025-2026 budget, families are scrambling to fill gaps that government used to cover.

## The Backbone of JARC: The Sibling Society

The Sibling Society isn’t just another fundraising committee. This group within JARC brings together brothers and sisters who share a unique understanding of what it means to love someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They know the phone calls, the advocacy meetings, the constant navigation of systems that weren’t designed with their family members in mind.

Research shows that [siblings often serve as lifelong caregivers, advocates, friends and coordinators](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10599190/) for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These roles become even more critical when formal support systems face cuts.

‘As a sibling of someone with special needs and proud member of The Sibling Society, to host Cocktails for JARC this year is incredibly meaningful to me,’ said Gechter. ‘I’m proud to support an organisation that gives individuals like my sister the chance to live full, empowered lives.’

Family members often become the most passionate and effective advocates because they understand the stakes personally. When you’ve watched your brother or sister struggle to find meaningful work or fought for their right to live independently, you don’t approach fundraising as an abstract charitable cause. [Family-led advocacy efforts](https://richwoman.co/article/journeys-home-the-families-behind-the-fight-for-cannabis-justice) consistently prove more effective than institutional approaches because the commitment runs deeper.

## Navigating Life With Fewer Resources

The 75% cut to state funding for JARC’s Community Works Program hits at exactly the wrong time. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities already face significant barriers to employment, with [low employment rates and many stuck in sheltered settings](https://www.aaidd.org/news-policy/policy/position-statements/employment) rather than competitive jobs in the community.

Vocational training programmes like [JARC’s Community Works Program](https://richwoman.co/article/giving-back-where-it-matters-how-one-foundation-connects-neighbourhood-roots-to-stem-futures) provide the bridge between wanting to work and actually getting hired. They offer job-specific training, workplace social skills and ongoing support that helps people succeed in real jobs. When that funding disappears, it affects whether someone can afford their own flat, whether they can contribute to their community, whether they can build the independent life their families have worked toward for years.

[Research indicates that vocational education and job-specific training significantly improve employment outcomes](https://www.workrisenetwork.org/working-knowledge/key-positive-employment-outcomes-adults-developmental-disabilities) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Without adequate funding, programmes face waiting lists, reduced services or closure entirely.

## Why This Night Matters

Good Night John Boy, the new 1970s-inspired nightclub and restaurant in downtown Delray Beach, provides the perfect backdrop for this year’s event. The venue choice reflects how JARC approaches its mission – serious work doesn’t have to be dreary. [The best charity events blend purpose with genuine celebration](https://richwoman.co/article/runway-chardonnay-when-giving-feels-like-a-celebration), creating experiences that people want to attend year after year.

The retro theme brings a [sense of fun](https://richwoman.co/article/honouring-three-decades-of-making-youth-sports-possible-and-the-power-of-creating-a-better-fu) to an evening that carries real weight. When government funding disappears, community support becomes essential. Every $30 advance ticket (or $35 at the door) directly supports programming that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful work and build independent lives.

Sponsorship opportunities allow businesses and individuals to make larger contributions, but the event’s success depends on broad community participation. When funding cuts force difficult choices, grassroots support becomes the difference between maintaining services and scaling back.

## Real Outcomes From Support

JARC’s work extends far beyond the Community Works Program. The organisation operates ten group homes in the Boca Raton and Delray Beach area, providing residential support for adults who benefit from 24-hour supervision. For those ready for more independence, JARC offers apartment living with less intensive support.

The Mel & Elaine Stein Living and Learning Center provides vocational training in a real-world setting. When funding cuts threaten these programmes, the effects ripple through entire families who have built their plans around available services.

Research shows that [disability funding cuts result in loss of care, increased hospitalisations and a return to outdated, segregated practices](https://nzmj.org.nz/journal/vol-138-no-1609/the-adverse-impact-of-disability-funding-cuts-on-individuals-with-intellectual-disability). Since its creation in the mid-1980s, JARC has responded to what families actually need rather than what systems think they should have.

When parents of adult children with developmental disabilities couldn’t find appropriate services, they created their own organisation. [That same spirit of communities taking care of their own](https://richwoman.co/article/how-a-glass-of-lemonade-brings-hope-the-people-behind-boyd-homes-community-fundraiser) drives today’s fundraising efforts.

## The Wider Picture

The challenges facing JARC reflect broader concerns about [disability programme funding at both state and federal levels](https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/03/27/disability-advocates-worry-new-federal-spending-plan-will-lead-to-more-programs-being-slashed/31378/). The uncertainty around budget allocations creates particular stress for families who depend on consistent services.

[National organisations like The Arc](https://thearc.org/get-involved/siblings/) provide resources to help siblings become effective advocates, recognising that family members often drive the most successful advocacy efforts. The Sibling Society fits into this broader network of family-led advocacy that becomes more important when formal systems face pressure.

There are multiple ways for people to contribute, whether you can attend in person or prefer to support from a distance. Sponsorship opportunities and direct donations provide other ways to support a good cause. [Events like these unite communities around shared values](https://richwoman.co/article/beyond-the-runway-from-fbi-to-fashion-a-force-for-good-as-purpose-meets-couture), creating lasting connections that extend beyond single fundraising efforts.

When funding cuts threaten essential services, community [events like Cocktails for JARC](https://richwoman.co/article/the-power-of-small-actions-pets-and-kids-bringing-families-together-this-autumn) become lifelines. For the siblings who organise these efforts, that’s always been the point.