BBYO In the News
BBYO appears in newspapers across the country hundreds of times a year!
A new name with an Impact
June 21, 2010
Impact: Boston wants to show teens that volunteering is about more than the good feeling that comes from helping out.
It's also about learning to see and treat society differently, said the program's co-director, Shimshon Stu Siegel.
The program "pushes participants beyond the notion that 'feeling good' is the key barometer of successful work in the community," said Siegel.
"Teens are eager for an immediate payoff," said Siegel, "and we give them that, in the form of great hands-on volunteer work and the chance to meet other teens who are passionate about change."
Local teen reflects on meeting at White House
June 16, 2010
When we were elected as International Presidents of BBYO, Inc., never in our wildest dreams did we think we would be invited to the White House. But there we were, attending the first-ever White House reception marking Jewish Heritage Month. We began to realize how much our role does not exist in a vacuum, and that although we are teens, we, too, are important Jewish leaders.
Our adventure started when we gathered with the U.S. presidents of several other Jewish teen movements. Danielle Borrin, the associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, helped show us the ropes and introduce us around— and we were so excited to learn that she herself is a proud BBYO alumna. The White House was incredible, and we saw the places we read about in our history books…the Red Room, the Green Room…and then came the biggest moment of all. We were given the chance to meet President and Mrs. Obama in the Blue Room. It was truly the moment of a lifetime for us.
Seeing Holocaust up close means you will never forget
June 16, 2010
Unless you, a friend or close family member personally survived the Holocaust, nothing brings it home like visiting concentration camps and talking with survivors.
"Survivors make sure that (the Holocaust) is not forgotten and never happens again," said Ellen Goldstein, Raintree resident and Eastern Region director of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO); however, "in 25 years there will be no more survivors."
It therefore is important, said Goldstein, 55, to educate Jewish teens about tolerance, leadership, community service and "standing up for yourself and for others" through her work at BBYO.
Estee Portnoy Elected Chair of BBYO International Board of Directors
June 10, 2010
BBYO, Inc. is proud to announce that Estee Portnoy of Bethesda, MD has been elected Chair of BBYO’s International Board of Directors. A sports executive and Jewish philanthropist, Portnoy succeeds Howard Wohl of Mill Neck, NY.
“To see Estee chairing the BBYO board is a dream come true,” said Lynn Schusterman, a former Chair whose foundation was instrumental in the development of BBYO as an independent agency in 2002. “The combination of Estee’s youth, energy and unwavering commitment to BBYO, as well as her success in business and philanthropy, leaves no doubt that she will take BBYO to new heights."
Toronto-area teens attend largest BBYO International Convention in Dallas
March 18, 2010
Nineteen Canadian delegates, who traveled from Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton, were among 800 teens from eight countries attending BBYO's International Convention in Dallas, Texas.
TORONTO – More than a foot of snow couldn’t stop 10 Toronto area teens from joining about 800 of the world’s leading Jewish communal thinkers – all 18 years of age or younger – from gathering in Dallas recently for BBYO’s largest International Convention (IC) in its 85-year history.
BBYO has been hosting International Conventions since 1924, setting the course for the coming year, determining strategies for strengthening BBYO as a youth-led movement and connecting teens to the Jewish community at large. This was BBYO’s most “international” convention in years, bringing together Jewish teens from North America, Bulgaria, Serbia, France, the United Kingdom, Israel and more.