(Courtesy of JCC on the Palisades) Registration is now open for the 40th Anniversary of the Rubin Run, which will be a hybrid event this year—held in person on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, and virtually, from Sunday, May 9 – Sunday, May 16. This family-friendly fitness event raises important funds for programs and services that improve the quality of life for children, teens and adults with special needs in our community.

Last year, in 2020, the JCC held a 100% virtual event due to COVID-19. This year, the JCC is excited to bring back in-person opportunities, including two 5Ks (one for runners who can complete the course in 25 minutes or less, and a second 5K for all abilities), plus a Kids 1-mile Fun Run/Family Health Walk through the JCC’s Taub Campus (for children ages 12 and under and their families). Virtual opportunities from Sunday, May 9 through Sunday, May 16 include a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and new this year, a 40 mile challenge in honor of the 40th anniversary.

Races will not be professionally timed, but participants will be asked to track their results by using a run tracking app such as STRAVA, or other, and submitting their times and distances on their race page. Kids Fun Run participants will not be expected to time themselves and will be tracked by on-site JCC staff. Whether participants decide to participate in-person or virtually, the JCC will be awarding top finishers in each category based upon the results submitted online by May 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

“The Rubin Run has a three-pronged significance,” says JCC Chief Executive Officer Jordan Shenker. “The first is that it is held on Mother’s Day as a celebration of family togetherness, where parents and other adult role models can set an example for healthy lifestyles for children. Second, it allows people to set personal fitness goals for themselves and their families. And lastly, it allows participants to support people who are differently abled of all ages so they can attain the support and comfort they need in order to thrive. The run is a great community motivator that allows people to fulfill important personal goals and a valuable JCC mission at the same time.”

Proceeds from this event will be used to support hundreds of individuals with disabilities and their families who rely on the vital resources and social connections provided by our JCC every day through the JCC’s Guttenberg Center for Special Services. The JCC’s Guttenberg Center for Special Services serves close to 1,000 individuals each year, helping them to learn important social interactions, including increasing communication skills and self-expression and developing greater self-confidence to become productive, healthy and engaged members of our community. While many people have been able to return to the JCC to continue benefiting from all that the center has to offer, individuals with disabilities continue to remain at-risk of regression and most have not been able to return on-site. To ensure that they continue to receive the important resources that they need, the JCC has provided online group classes with adapted curriculum, direct one-to-one outreach to individuals (and their families/caregivers) to assess needs and provide personalized support, and resources and guidance for parents and caregivers as they navigate uncharted territory.

Register for the 40th Anniversary of the Rubin Run at jccotp.org/rubinrun. Participants are encouraged to fundraise as individuals or teams. Non-participants can donate to a runner or team directly by visiting the site.

Early bird registration is available for both in person 5K races using the promo code EARLYBIRD and will continue online through May 1. The JCC will provide helpful tools to support fundraisers who can earn points by completing activities. The JCC will provide a special gift to our top fundraisers and point-earners in various categories.

The Rubin Run is made possible by generous lead sponsors that include: Presenting Sponsors: The Kaplen Foundation, The Rubin Family, The Jewish Standard, and Liberman Networks; and Diamond sponsors: Englewood Health, The Rubach Family, BSECURE and ShopRite.

The Rubin Run is named for the late Leonard Rubin, a past president and founder of the JCC, who established this community-wide athletic event 40 years ago to encourage and promote healthy living.

For more info about the race, sponsorship opportunities, creating a team, making a donation or any other opportunities, contact Fran Koszer 201-408-1404 or email [email protected].