Real estate companies and families are among the most philanthropic and almost everyone has a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Jim Whelan, executive vice president of the Real Estate Board of New York, is organizing the first local Real Estate Games at Chelsea Piers on June 9 to raise money for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

The Games began in the Washington, DC, area 25 years ago and Whelan was inspired to start them here. “It’s a cause near and dear to my heart,” said Whelan, whose teenage son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a few years ago.

A dozen 10-person teams have already forked over $5,000 each to compete in six events that include sand volleyball, a rock climbing relay and tug of war. Tower Power — a Jenga-like balancing game — dodge ball and Hot Shot basketball will round out the afternoon events.

The teams up to this point include Tishman/Aecom, Brookfield, Cushman & Wakefield, Eastdil Secured, Hines, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, REBNY, Savills Studley, Related, Tishman Speyer, Two Trees and Vornado.

While not yet fielding teams, CBRE, Durst, Jack Resnick & Sons, SL Green and the Rudin Foundation have made donations.

“We have more capacity for teams,” added Whelan in a pitch for warm bodies, donations and cheering bystanders. “We hope that people will have fun and want to do it again.”