Chicago industrialist/philanthropist Ted Perlman and his wife Harriette have pledged $25 million to accelerate BBYO’s initiatives for young Jewish women and teens. The gift, one of the largest single commitments to a youth-serving organization in modern history, provides immediate resources for BBYO to launch and expand new programs and provides endowment funding that will support such activities in perpetuity.
The Perlman’s gift will focus on providing unprecedented resources for BBYO to train young women through the launch of The Anita M. Perlman Women’s Leadership Initiative, which is named in honor of Perlman’s mother. This Initiative will:
- Mobilize young women who are BBYO alumni to take on positions of leadership in BBYO as advisors, professionals, and advocates;
- Create new leadership development opportunities so that these young women can strengthen their character, careers, and contributions to society; and
- Otherwise strengthen BBYO’s activities related to empowering, educating, and training female leaders.
Anita M. Perlman is considered by many to be the first feminist to make changes in the Jewish institutional world. Among her innumerable contributions to Jewish causes globally, she is best known as the founder of the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG), a division of BBYO, which is one of the largest sisterhoods of teenage girls in the world. The Anita M. Perlman Women’s Leadership Initiative will inspire young women to honor the very characteristics that Mrs. Perlman epitomized throughout her extraordinary life of leadership, community involvement, and philanthropy.
In honor of the Perlman’s historic gift, the position of International N’siah – the teen leader elected by thousands of her peers internationally through BBYO’s democratic process – will be renamed The Anita M. Perlman International N’siah. The International N’siah serves a one-year term as an ambassador to Jewish teens globally during a gap year before college when she travels the world on behalf of BBYO.
The announcemnt was made last night at BBYO’s International Convention 2019 (BBYO IC 2019) in Denver, where more than 5,500 teen leaders, educators, thought and business leaders, and philanthropists joined together for one of the largest Jewish communal events of the year.
BBYO IC 2019 is also the launch point for an anniversary celebration as the Order of the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) turns 75 this year. Celebrations throughout IC will recognize women who have made an impact in their communities and the world, and there will be multiple content sessions focused on topics such as women’s empowerment, leadership training, gender equality, and women’s rights.
David Phillips says
February 15, 2019 at 1:00 pmSpectacular commitment to an organization that pushes the field of Jewish youth work forward in the most positive manner. Executive leadership, volunteers, donors, participants and the community impacted by these efforts should be extraordinarily proud of all that BBYO does to build smart, thoughtful mensches. This is a heck of a gift that will change lives! Mazel Tov to one and all.
Cindy Chazan says
February 15, 2019 at 4:32 pmMazel Tov, Matt er al.
As a past VP of BBG Laurentian Region 1967 I applaud you! What a brilliant move for BBYO, young women and the future Jewish world and best of luck, Cindy Chazan cchazan50@gmail.com
Jeremy Broekman says
February 15, 2019 at 6:58 pmBig time Mazel! May it be one of many major gifts to the organization.
Fraternally yours,
Jeremy Broekman ’94
Galilee AZA #2246, Pacific Coast Region.
Judy Aron says
February 15, 2019 at 8:22 pmDear EJP,
Women are already more empowered and confident than men,
so why spend $25 millions of dollars to empower women?
Happy Shabbos, y’all!
Sincerely,
Judy Aron
Esther Shapiro says
February 15, 2019 at 10:36 pmI was very active in BBG as a teenager. Went on to have a full and satisfying professional life in the Jewish world. Everything I know about leadership I learned first in BBG! Yasher Koach to the Perlman family.
Marty Kander says
February 15, 2019 at 11:57 pmAs a member of the Toledo, Ohio BBYO in the 1960’s a great many of my best friends are still part of my BBYO social circle from so many years ago.
We started having reunions around 15 years ago; basically every other year. The turnout is always impressive and it is wonderful to see the love and respect we all have for each other.
Mazel Tov to our beloved BBG young women.
And a great big hug of gratitude to Ted Perlman and his wife Harriette for this landmark donation!
Dena Kaufman says
February 22, 2019 at 4:37 pmAs a professional in the world of Legacy giving, I so appreciate the endowment portion of this remarkable gift which will ensure the future of Judaism! The Perlmans will be remembered forever as this work echoes through the generations. Thank you!
Judy Aron says
March 5, 2019 at 8:02 pmDear EJP,
In Japan, the empowerment of women has led to a large percentage of Japanese men dropping out of school, and dropping out of work, and dropping out of marriage and fatherhood, and becoming hermits.
Just do a few google searches on “Japanese herbivore men” and hikikomori.
Find the meanings of these words on Wikipedia.
In America and Europe, the empowerment of women has led to MGTOW movement and the Sexodus, where thousands of men avoid marriage and fatherhood and all long-term relationships with women.
In every country in the world, the more women become empowered, the lower marriage rates and birth rates decline. Do we want that to happen in Israel, which is the only place in the world where the numbers of Jews is increasing?
Happy Purim, y’all!
Sincerely,
Judy Aron