B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, Inc. 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone (202) 857-6633 Fax (202) 857-6585 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brian Greene International Director (202) 857-6585 BBYO BECOMES SELF-GOVERNING ORGANIZATION (Washington, DC - April 1, 2002) The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) announced today that is has embarked on a new future as a self-governing organization. After 77 years as an agency of B'nai B'rith International (BBI), BBYO, the world's oldest and largest Jewish youth movement, will chart a new course as an independent organization. "This is a very exciting time for everyone who shares our concern for BBYO and for Jewish teens in general," said Lynn Schusterman, President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the newly elected Chairperson of BBYO. "I am humbled by the confidence others have placed in my ability to lead BBYO during this pivotal time and thankful for the tremendous efforts of those who have worked so hard to help BBYO reach this stage of its organizational development." Ms. Schusterman is one of the four Jewish philanthropists who stepped forward last summer and collectively pledged $1,000,000 to help BBYO make the transition to independence. The other three major funders are Newton Becker, Edgar M. Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt. All four have agreed to serve on the BBYO Board of Directors, a body that will be comprised initially of 19 people, including five representatives of B'nai B'rith International and two student leaders. Stephen Hoffman, President and CEO of the United Jewish Communities, has also agreed to serve on the new BBYO board. BBYO receives local and national support from Jewish federations across North America. The $1 million pledged by the funders matched the $1 million BBI also committed to BBYO for the current fiscal year. Richard D. Heideman, President of BBI, will serve on the BBYO governing board. As part of the transition plan, BBI has pledged to contribute a minimum of $1 million plus in- kind services to BBYO in each of the next two years. Brian Greene, the International Director of BBYO, heralded the dawning of a new era for the organization. Mr. Greene, hired late last year after an exhaustive search and in only his third month on the job, also expressed his appreciation and enthusiasm. "Thanks to the longstanding support of BBI and the recent efforts of our Advisory Team, BBYO is once again in a position to realize its full potential. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish teens have benefited greatly from our programming in the past, and now hundreds of thousands more will be able to explore their Jewish identities and develop important leadership skills in the years ahead." Mark Meridy, the Chief Operating Officer of BBYO and a major figure in the transition process since last summer, said he had been in contact with all BBYO employees and expected that part of the