BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. Participation in BBYO officially begins in eighth grade and continues through high school graduation. Membership in BBYO requires a one-time fee of $250. This membership fee grants teens access to special events, exclusive programs, a peer group that spans the globe and a robust alumni network that can support their success well beyond high school and into adulthood.

All members of AZA (boys) and BBG (girls) belong to a chapter. Here in Naples, we offer two chapters: Negev AZA #2560 (for boys) and Mishpacha BBG #2552 (for girls). In BBYO, teens are responsible for developing programming, contacting members and organizing events. Our teen chapter board plans programs targeted toward the interests of current and prospective members. It also educates new members in the traditions and expectations of AZA and BBG.

During the school calendar year, Negev and Mishpacha meet in the BBYO Lounge located at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. Our teens are fortunate enough to have a beautiful lounge fully equipped with a Smart TV, beanbag chairs, ping pong table and foosball table. The teens also plan events that take place within the greater Southwest Florida region, such as an afternoon at the beach at the Maccabeach games and Shabbat beach clean-ups.

A new leadership board is elected every six months to give every teen the opportunity to perform a leadership role. AZA and BBG chapters located in the same geographical area are further organized into regions. Mishpacha and Negev are part of the North Florida Region (NFR), which currently consists of chapters from Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, Melbourne, Jacksonville and Gainesville. Twice a year, the region’s members meet with one another for the day to enjoy activities such as visiting an amusement park or a roller rink, driving go-karts and competing in laser tag. Members can also spend two weekends a year at NFR conventions, where they focus on Jewish enrichment and making life-long friends through interactive programs planned by teen coordinators.

BBYO has over 70,000 members in 60 countries. These members are represented by the AZA and BBG International Board, a body of 12 elected teens supporting and training their counterparts. Every year in February, over 5,000 teens from across the globe gather for International Convention (IC). In 2025, IC will be in our own backyard: Orlando, Florida. North Florida Region is thrilled to be the host of IC this year. Because this IC coincides with the 100-year anniversary of BBYO, there will be even more excitement surrounding this event. If you’re an alumnus of BBYO, please let me know. You won’t want to miss this!

We’re fortunate to have a community of partners who assist in providing resources, which lead to incredible experiences for our teens. With the generous support of individual generous donors, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Naples Chabad, Beth Tikvah and Temple Shalom’s Men’s Club, Naples teens are offered opportunities with unlimited potential. Naples BBYO is thankful to all these donors as well as the Naples BBYO Board of Directors for their continued championing of the organization. And a special shoutout to Marc Saperstein, who not only brought BBYO to Naples a little over a decade ago, but gave us a home at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center.

Cayla SchreierSouthwest Coordinator 845-405-1991 cschreier@bbyo.org