In order to strengthen BBYO’s ability to deliver meaningful Jewish experiences to Jewish teens, the Maimonides Fund has awarded the organization a grant of $3.9 million. This is the fourth multi-year, multi-million-dollar grant BBYO has received toward a capacity building plan designed to expand the organization’s reach and impact across the globe.

A primary focus of this new grant will be felt at the more than 100 teen-led weekend retreats offered by BBYO each school year. With more than 15,000 registrants, these experiences serve as a convening point for a critical mass of Jewish teens in North America. Additional funding will allow BBYO to contract with the Jewish community’s most creative educators, speakers and song leaders to work with teens and BBYO professionals in bringing these experiences to life.

The talent assembled will also be utilized at BBYO’s summer camps and at International Convention, an annual gathering of 3,000 Jewish teens from across the globe. Additional funds will also infuse Israel education into BBYO activities, as well as enable BBYO’s full-time employees to participate in Jewishly focused continuing professional development experiences.

According to Mark Charendoff, President of the Maimonides Fund, “BBYO is an important leader in engaging Jewish teens through dynamic Jewish learning experiences. We believe that the Jewish educators who will be brought on to create new content, programs, and experiences for BBYO members, will play a vital role in creating environments where teens feel more Jewishly capable and connected.”