26 | MARCH 21 • 2024 
J
N

A

lec Cohen, a BBYO 
Michigan Region 
volunteer adviser, 
is this year’s recipient of the 
David Bittker Unsung Hero 
Award for Adviser of the 
Year. Alec was nominated by 
local teens and staff and was 
chosen out of all the volunteer 
advisers serving BBYO 
chapters across America.
The David Bittker Unsung 
Hero Award is presented 
annually by BBYO to an 
outstanding adviser who 
demonstrates David’s 
qualities: integrity, humility, 
dedication and hard work. 
The late David Bittker 
selflessly invested his time, 
passion and resources 
to strengthen the Jewish 

community. BBYO seeks 
to share David’s model of 
leadership with generations of 
young people.
It is incredibly special 
to see a Michigan adviser 
receive this award given that 
David Bittker was a Metro 
Detroit native and was deeply 
committed to the local 
community. 
Alec Cohen was recognized 
at BBYO’s International 
Convention in Orlando, 
Florida, where he was 
presented with the award in 
front of almost 4,000 Jewish 
teenagers from all over the 
world. As the adviser of Max 
Fisher AZA #337, Cohen 
has provided mentorship and 
support to Metro Detroit 

teens and helped drive 
BBYO’s mission to create 
more meaningful Jewish 
experiences for more Jewish 
teens. 
“Alec is more than an 
adviser — he is a friend and 
inspiration,” said Matthew 
Devaney, chapter president of 
Fisher AZA and a junior at 
Walled Lake Northern High 
School. “He uses his morals 
to guide us through thick and 
thin and, as our adviser, he 
has really helped our chapter 
thrive.”
“Alec knows how to give 
the teens total responsibility 
and allows them to make 
decisions yet can guide 
them to making appropriate 
choices that are best for 

the chapter,” adds Shayna 
Pearlman, associate regional 
director of BBYO Michigan 
Region. “There are so many 
great things I can say about 
Alec, and we are so grateful 
and lucky to have him in 
Michigan Region.”
Cohen, who currently lives 
in Royal Oak, is a BBYO 
Michigan Region alumni 
and was a member of Fisher 
AZA, the chapter he currently 
advises. He works for Bally 
Sports Detroit as a photogra-
pher and also runs his own 
photography company, AC 
Productions.
BBYO Michigan Region 
and Fisher AZA will be host-
ing a celebration in honor of 
Alec’s award later this year. 

Alec Cohen Receives David Bittker Unsung Hero 
Award at BBYO’s International Convention.

OUR COMMUNITY

Unsung Hero

Alec 
Cohen

Alec Cohen 
with teens.

