DECEMBER 16 • 2021 | 21

action everyone needs,” Ellis 
says. “What we’re seeing now 
is that teens are showing up, 
they’re really excited, they 
miss each other, and they want 
to be in person. So, this is a 
perfect time to be in BBYO 
and be a part of this new 
space.”

NEW SPACE, NEW STAFF
The office isn’t the only 
thing that’s new, three new 
staff members joined BBYO 
Michigan in August and 
September. They are Regional 
Director Audrey Bloomberg, 
Associate Regional Director 
Blair Bean and social worker 
Sari Kripke.
BBYO’s mission is to cre-
ate meaningful experiences 
for Jewish teens from social 
events to philanthropy, com-
munity service, social justice 
initiatives, athletics, health 
and social awareness and 
more. The programming is 
teen-driven, and participants 
learn leadership and life skills 
along the way.
“We learn how to collabo-
rate and work within a bud-
get,” Elbinger says. “I’m able to 
connect with students through 
all grades. Everyone’s just so 
welcoming. It’s truly amazing.”

To celebrate the start of this 
new era for BBYO and the 
tens of thousands of alumni 
the organization has served in 
the past, a special donor wall 
is also planned for the new 
space. A conference room wall 
— visible through a large glass 
wall when you enter the office 
— will be transformed in an 
artistic way to showcase sup-
porters through the decades. 

A fundraising campaign is 
underway, and donors who 
contribute $500 and up will be 
included on the wall. Donated 
funds also support program-
ming and scholarships.
“This feels like a restart of 
BBYO coming out of COVID,” 
Ellis says. “We are so excited 
to recognize our supporters 
in a really cool way and wel-
come local Jewish teens into 

our new space. Now is a great 
time to be part of BBYO and 
to invest in our young people 
who will make our Jewish 
community stronger and the 
world a richer place.” 

To make a donation or learn more, 

visit bbyo.org/donate/Michigan or con-

tact Operations/Office Administrator 

Jennifer Frank at 248-849-0569 or 

jfrank@bbyo.org.

LEFT: Social worker Sari Kripke 
shows off the snack drawer.

BELOW: Skylar Elbinger, 
regional teen president.

Audrey Bloomberg and Jennifer Frank at the welcome desk.

