When it comes to the 3 R’s, everyone thinks of “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.” But for Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, the 3 R’s will stand for Running, Resting, and Recycling as it kicks off its 8th Annual Week of Healthy Living.
Betty Ann Levin, executive director of JFS, says, “While the Week of Healthy Living is our primary fundraiser, it’s also the agency’s opportunity to promote wellness and environmental responsibility to the entire community in a weeklong event.
“This year, the focus will be on restoring health through sleep and exercise, and on being environmentally responsible through recycling,” says Levin. “People look forward to this event every year and this year will not disappoint.”
Sunday, May 6
On Your Mark, Get Set…
Run, Roll or Stroll!
One of the highlights of the Week of Healthy Living is the Run, Roll or Stroll, which includes an 8K Run, a 5K Run/Walk and a 1 Mile Run/Walk at Neptune’s Park in Virginia Beach. “Our race is unique because we have the only local 8K Run in the month of May,” says Levin. JFS welcomes Entercom Norfolk as the media sponsor this year. Don London of 2WD radio station will emcee the event and provide entertainment at the park. “This will be a fun event for the whole family,” says Levin. The Run, Roll or Stroll is sponsored by the Lori and Michael Glasser family.
To better serve participants, the event has its own website at www.jfsrunrollorstroll.org, where people can register for the race, learn about the other events, and see race results after the race. The website also gives people the ability to do even more good deeds by fundraising for JFS.
“Every dollar raised stays right here in our community,” says Elena Baum, JFS board president. “This helps JFS provide valuable and much-needed services such as home health care, counseling, Meals on Wheels, and financial assistance.” People are encouraged to form fundraising teams, but they can also fundraise alone if they prefer. The fundraising process is easy— participants set up a fundraising page on the website and then send emails to their friends and family asking them to donate to JFS. Prizes will be awarded to the participants and teams that raise the most money. To get started, visit www.jfsrunrollorstroll.org.
A Race Expo and Packet Pickup will be held on Friday, May 4 at the Simon Family JCC, 8 am–4 pm. Participants can pick up their packets early, enabling them to sleep in a little longer on race day. Exhibitors and vendors will also be on hand at the Race Expo.
Tuesday, May 8, 11am
Sleep…Your Way to Health and Happiness
The second “R” of the Week of Healthy Living involves resting, or more specifically, sleeping. Dr. Michael Breus, The Sleep Doctor, is the featured speaker at the Simon Family JCC. “More than 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep problem,” says Levin, “so this is a topic everyone can relate to.”
At the program, Breus will explain how sleeping can make people slimmer, smarter, sexier, and happier and give specific tips on how to get better sleep.
Breus is a clinical psychologist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was one of the youngest people to have passed the board at age 31 and, with a specialty in Sleep Disorders, is one of only 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinction.
The author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep, a groundbreaking book discussing the science and relationship between quality sleep and metabolism, Breus’ first book, GOOD NIGHT: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health, an Amazon Top 100 Best Seller, has met with rave reviews and continues to change the lives of readers.
Breus appears regularly on Dr. Oz, The Doctors and Sirius XM Radio.
Breus’ books will be available for sale at the program. The program is free, but registration is required. Call 321-2222 to register. This program is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Dozoretz.
Wednesday, May 9, 12– 6 pm
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Replenish
“Our third ‘R’ stands for recycling,” says Levin. “Most everyone has items lying around the house they no longer need, want or use. Now is a great time to get rid of them in an environmentally responsible way!”
This day offers an opportunity to bring the following items to the Simon Family JCC for recycling:
• Hearing aids and eye glasses (for Lion’s Club)
• Gently worn shoes, athletic and non-athletic (for Soles4Souls)
• Ink cartridges (for CURE Recycling)
• Cell phones (for CURE Recycling)
• iPods/MP3 players
(for CURE Recycling)
• Digital cameras (for CURE Recycling)
Cure Recycling benefits CURE Childhood Cancer. CURE was founded in 1975 as a non-profit organization dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research, education and support of patients and their families.
Soles4Souls collects and distributes shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has delivered over 16 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs worldwide. Founded in 1917, the Lions Club is best known for fighting blindness. Members also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects—including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.
Help the Red Cross!
Help replenish the local American Red Cross blood supply by donating blood during this Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Replenish day. Call 321-2327 to reserve a spot.
A Taste of Tuscany!
Visit No Frill Grill at Hilltop April 30–May 11 and order a tasty Tuscan Chicken Salad for lunch or dinner. The restaurant will donate all the proceeds to JFS. The restaurant is at 1620 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach.
JFS thanks Presenting Sponsor TowneBank for its support of the 8th Annual Week of Healthy Living. Thanks also to Diamond Sponsors: Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Fund of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, Copeland and Klebanoff families, and Lori and Michael Glasser family.
*of blessed memory