One who can cause others to give has a greater reward than the giver. Shulchan Aruch 249:5
Thanks to an anonymous donor, members of the Wisconsin Region B’nai B’rith Youth Organization have the opportunity to learn just that. The teens are planning a fundraising event called “The Ultimate ” to be held on Sunday, March 2, 7 p.m. at the Wyndam Hotel Milwaukee — the cost of which is made possible by an anonymous donation of up to $20,000. Parents, BBYO alumni, members and the community are invited.
According to Richard Kessler, BBYO regional director, “The kids have a chance to plan a major fundraising event without having to worry about the expense. That is quite a departure from usual fundraising activities. All the money raised will be used to benefit others. Having a donor who stimulates such an all-encompassing program that empowers teens to plan an event in order to help others is very exciting.”
Proceeds will be allocated to BBYO’s International Service Fund, which distributes funds to organizations to raise and strengthen commitment to Israel, increase leadership training for members and foster tikkun olam (repairing the world); and to the Wisconsin Regional Service Fund, which benefits local non-profit organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
Kessler added, “It is like they are [operating] a little Jewish federation or United Way. They will allocate [the funds] to various charities, once they know how much they are dealing with. They will also probably donate some of their dollars to the [Milwaukee Jewish] Federation.”
Event co-chairs Nicolet High School junior Yoni Macagon and fellow BBYO’er Gabrielle Sattler, a senior at Homestead High School, have learned important lessons in the last few months since they began organizing the gala event.
“Working with that kind of money means a lot of responsibility for a group of teens,” Macagon said.
The teens view the challenge as a “win-win” proposition — they are staging a fun-filled extravaganza for the entire community while raising money to help others. Kessler noted that the donor could have written a check to BBYO, “but this experience has allowed the kids to hone their organizational skills and focus on tzedakah.”
Sattler said the event was “the first time we are doing something this big. We are inviting the whole community. There will be a dinner with entertainment by BBYO members and a live auction featuring some pretty expensive items. After the dinner and auction, the teens will attend the annual Beau/Sweetheart Dance, where we will elect the Beau and Sweetheart for our region.”
Established in 1924, BBYO is the world’s oldest and largest Jewish youth organization. BBYO provides Jewish teenagers with the opportunity to explore their Judaism and leadership potential. Under the guidance of professional staff members and volunteer advisors, BBYO teenagers elect their own leaders and plan their own programs.
Macagon and Sattler were chosen to organize the event by a “representative committee of leadership,” said Kessler. This committee decided to put AZA (BBYO for boys) and BBG (girls) office treasurers in charge of co-chairing the steering committee of “The Ultimate .” Macagon and Sattler were both serving in those roles.
“After Gab and I were chosen,” said Macagon, “we sat with Richard [Kessler] in his office and [over a couple of weeks] we came up with committees that we needed…. We then gave out applications for people to apply for one of the six committees of their choice. Once we got the applications back, we made up a list of people interested in helping to plan the event.”
While Kessler is involved in overseeing the preparations, he admitted that there is one aspect of planning from which he is excluded — decorating the ballroom.
That job was left to BBYO board members/volunteers Linda Freedman and Carol Kurtzer, both of whom Kessler said have much better eyes for decoration and detail than he.
“The kids don’t trust me to make the room look nice,” he quipped.
All together there are some 30 teenagers working on “The Ultimate ” steering committee. They are hoping to attract 250 people to the event.
“The Ultimate ” will be a semi-formal event. Couvert is $25 for adults; for BBYO members, $18 for dinner and the Dance, or $10 for the dance alone. The dance is for BBYO members only. Reservations are due Feb. 16. For more information, call the BBYO office at 414-963-1400.
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