What started in the 1980s as the first “Beat the Heat” race has now grown into a tradition of more than two decades for the Kansas City Jewish community. Each Father’s Day, runners, walkers, volunteers and participants of every age turn out at Village Shalom to enjoy this event that is a true celebration for the community.

The Village Shalom Associate Board, a group providing volunteer and leadership opportunities for Jewish young adults, has been hard at work planning and preparing for the upcoming 23rd annual race scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, June 20, 2010. Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. With a new name – the Village Shalom Father’s Day Run/Walk – the race is intended to appeal to everyone wanting to begin their Father’s Day celebration with a fun family event.

“While ‘Beat the Heat’ may have literally explained the notion of getting up early for an event, naming our annual benefit the ‘Father’s Day Run/Walk’ allows us also to incorporate the idea of the race being geared to families,” said Seth Jeremy Katz, Village Shalom Associate Board co-president. Funds raised through race sponsorships, donations and registration fees will help to provide essential support for Village Shalom’s programs and services that directly benefit individuals and their families confronting the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

“I look forward to participating in this annual event that makes such a difference in the lives of so many people at Village Shalom,” commented Andy Greenstein, a member of the Associate Board’s fundraising committee. “It’s not just the residents who benefit; Village Shalom also offers peace of mind to their family members, because they know their parents or grandparents are in good hands when they can’t be there.”

Not only does the race attract members of the Jewish community who want to help support Village Shalom, but as an officially sanctioned race by the Mid-America Running Association, it draws hundreds of runners from all over the area, who will use their official times from this race to apply for other events.

Besides the actual 5k/10k run/walk that is the core of the race, participants and family members can also enjoy a children’s arts-and-crafts tent sponsored by U.S. Toy/Constructive Playthings, and a pancake breakfast served by Chris Cakes.

For sponsorship opportunities, to register for the race or to make a donation, visit the race web site, www.fathersdayrun.org , or call Sally Beyers, Village Shalom Director of Development, at 913-266-8412.

Village Shalom Associate Board executives and committee members involved in planning the 2010 Father’s Day Run/Walk are: Seth Jeremy Katz and Isaac Powell, co-presidents; Lara Krigel Pabst, secretary/treasurer; Nancy Batdorf, race chair; Roy Ben-Aharon, logistics chair; Rachel Feldman, volunteers chair; Andy Greenstein and Jay Lieberman, fundraising co-chairs; Jeff Greenstein, publicity chair; Aaron Goldman, food & prizes chair; Merissa Rittmaster, logistics committee; Jessica Shea and Renee Polsky Silver, fundraising committee; Mike Brown, food & prizes committee; Brian Furey and Amy Nemiccolo, publicity committee.