Miami magazine and Saks Fifth Avenue will recognize six dads from Bal Harbour in time for Father's Day

Six local dads will be honored at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Bal Harbour Shops as the nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of Father's Day


BY RODOLFO ROMAN
Special to The Miami Herald
Before heading off to his office at an aviation firm, Jon Batchelor makes an important pit stop every weekday -- dropping his kids off at school

``My belief is that the most important job in life is trying to be a good dad,'' said Batchelor, 57, one of several local fathers who will be recognized by Miami magazine and Bal Harbour Shops' Saks Fifth Avenue on Thursday.

The top pops will be outfitted head-to-toe with Saks clothing as part of the prize. The event commemorates the 100th anniversary of Father's Day, which is June 20.

``It is an honor,'' said Batchelor, whose father, George Batchelor, helped provide funds for the Children's Research Institute building at UM School of Medicine.

The fathers were nominated on the store's website and chosen by a committee from the Children's First Society for UM Pediatrics and Miami magazine.

Other recipients include Jeffrey Dever, Robert Finvarb, Rico James, Ryan Rosenberg and Neil Sazant.

The winners were picked for embodying the principles of fatherhood and for leaving a legacy for generations of fathers-to-be, according to Deborah Slack, vice president and general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

``Saks Fifth Avenue was searching for role model dads in the Miami and Bal Harbour areas who are making a positive impact through their style, generosity and dedication to their families and communities,'' wrote Slack in an e-mail.

Batchelor is no stranger to the runway. He modeled summer wear a few times as a child in New York -- for Saks Fifth Avenue. He is married to Nancy Batchelor and father to Johnathan, 21, Carolyn, 12, and Christopher, 15.

Aside from the awards ceremony, there will be music and food followed by shopping.

Ten percent of Saks Fifth Avenue men's collection sales that evening and throughout the weekend will be donated to the Children's First Society for UM Pediatrics, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the wide array of programs in the Department of Pediatrics.

The ceremony takes place at 6:30 p.m. at 9700 Collins Ave.

For more information, call 305-341-0231 or e-mail rsvpmiami@modernluxury.com.