In a major milestone for BBYO’s “For Every Jewish Teen” campaign, dozens of teen leaders from across the United States gathered in Atlanta for the inaugural Chapter Founders Summit, a weekend designed to empower the next generation of Jewish teen leaders who are building BBYO chapters in small, rural and unique communities.
BBYO welcomed chapter founders for a weekend infused with entrepreneurship workshops, community-building activities and leadership development. Teens explored the parallels between their chapter work and launching a startup venture, designed blueprints for growth in their home communities and connected with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities.
Launched in 2021, the For Every Jewish Teen campaign is a national initiative designed to ensure that Jewish teens—regardless of where they live—have access to meaningful Jewish experiences and community. Now in its fourth year, the campaign has expanded to support 50 active communities, bringing Jewish life to places with limited infrastructure and fewer opportunities for teen engagement. More than 1,000 teens have participated in For Every Jewish Teen-supported programming since its launch.
“This weekend was so special—to meet all 36 participants and hear their stories was incredible to me,” said Shiraz R., class of 2025 and founder of Bayit Sheni BBYO, BBYO’s first virtual chapter for teens attending boarding schools from all over. “It was eye-opening to see how many Jewish teens live in remote places, and how we’re all still looking for the same thing: a strong sense of Jewish community. Whether we’re from Sun Valley, Idaho; Sacramento, Calif.; or Puerto Rico, we all showed up because this matters to us.”
The summit also featured hallmark BBYO experiences, including Shabbat celebrations, sightseeing around Atlanta and late-night bonding with new friends. Most importantly, the event helped teens from often-isolated Jewish communities feel seen, supported and part of something larger than themselves.
Since the launch of the For Every Jewish Teen campaign, engagement has steadily increased year-over-year. Notably, participation in BBYO’s international convention by teens in these communities has grown from just 20 attendees in 2022 to 140 in 2025, and summer program participation has more than tripled. New member recruitment continues to thrive, with 165 new members joining this year.
“The Chapter Founders Summit is more than a leadership retreat—it’s a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that lives within Jewish teens across the country,” said Ruthie Perlman, BBYO’s manager of new chapters and community expansion. “Each of these teens identified a need in their community and answered it by building something meaningful from scratch. They are pioneers in every sense, and their work redefines what it means to be part of Jewish life in America.”
BBYO alumni Lewis and Sandy Schneider generously support the For Every Jewish Teen campaign. Their lifelong commitment to Jewish teens continues to fuel BBYO’s growth in places that need it most.
“We were thrilled by the teens’ interest, passion and full participation throughout the weekend—it truly renewed our faith in today’s youth,” the couple said. “From our vantage point, the experience was incredibly well-run, and we were so impressed with the professionalism of the BBYO staff. Our time, support and belief in this initiative all felt so well spent. We’re already asking: when’s the next one?”
To learn more or partner with BBYO on the For Every Jewish Teen initiative, contact Ruthie Perlman at rperlman@bbyo.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Debbie Shemony, senior vice president, marketing and communications, BBYO, dshemony@bbyo.org and Jen Appel, senior manager, marketing and communications, BBYO, jappel@bbyo.org.
