A family whose commitment to Village Shalom spans multiple generations will be honored at the organization’s Ages of Excellence Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011. The prestigious Helzberg Excellence in Aging Award will be presented to the Sarah and Philip Wang Family Legacy, representing three generations of Wang family members who have followed Sarah and Philip’s generous example by donating their time, talent and leadership to Village Shalom and its predecessor organizations. Karen Glickstein is chairperson of the event, which will be held at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel. The evening will commence at 6:00 p.m. with a Patron Dinner for honored guests and sponsors. Presentation of awards and a program featuring guest speaker Jeffrey Zaslow will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The honorees include children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Sarah and Philip Wang:
Nicole and Myron Wang, Pauline and Murray Hendel, Frances and Jerald Gershon (both of blessed memory), Edna and Meyer Finkel (both of blessed memory), Michael Klein, Beth and Michael Liss, Rebecca Dragon-Freiden and Jonathan Freiden, and Robyn and Seth Freiden. Since 1948, when Philip Wang became secretary of the Board of Directors of the Appleman Home for Jewish Aged (a forerunner of Village Shalom), subsequent generations of the Wang family have maintained an uninterrupted tradition of service to the organization.

“This is a family whose commitment is remarkable not only in the number of continuous decades they have served, but in the scope of their involvement,” said Glickstein. Among the honorees are past chairmen of the Board of Directors (Michael Klein and Myron Wang), board members (Meyer Finkel, Murray Hendel, Michael Liss, and Nicole Wang), an officer of the Women’s Auxiliary (Nicole Wang), and Associate Board members (Rebecca Dragon-Freiden, Jonathan Freiden, and Seth Freiden). Through the years, the honorees have also contributed significantly through volunteerism and financial support.

“It is so meaningful for us to recognize the exceptional commitment that was begun by Sarah and Philip Wang early in our organization’s history, and its exponential growth in successive generations,” Glickstein added. “In many ways, this family’s longstanding dedication is a significant factor in enabling Village Shalom to mark its centennial year in 2012. They embody the idea of continuity.”

The evening will also include presentation of the Stephen J. Schoenfeld Volunteer Recognition Award to Norman King, who has personified the true meaning of volunteerism by enhancing the spiritual life of Village Shalom for more than a decade.

Jeffrey Zaslow, columnist for The Wall Street Journal and best-selling author, will be the featured speaker of the evening. He is perhaps best known as co-author of The Last Lecture with Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, and his other books include The Girls From Ames, a tribute to the power of friendship among women, and Highest Duty, the story of US Airways captain Sully Sullenberger and his role in the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Proceeds from the Ages of Excellence Celebration will help to provide financial assistance to senior adults who rely on Village Shalom for vital programs and services.

For more information about the Village Shalom Ages of Excellence Celebration, contact Sally Beyers, Director of Development, at 913-266-8412 or sbeyers@villageshalom.org.