Current Community Needs

The goal of the BBYO Connect program is to provide opportunities to connect teens after the Bar and Bat Mitzvah year when affiliation tends to drop off. Around 150 students per year typically participate. BBYO Connect has successfully served as a feeder for the local high school BBYO program which serves more than 220 students per year. In normal years, it offers 14 events annually.

BBYO has 4 chapters in the Greater Kansas city area, representing over 180 local Jewish teens. Chapters hold events a few times per month at locations around the city. Events are planned by teens for teens and programming ranges from fun activities like crafting, cooking and game nights to more serious programming around self-identity, community activism or leadership development. Here are ways to support BBYO programming:
$150 provides a chapter shabbat dinner for multiple attendees
$249 underwrites BBYO membership cost for a high school student
$300 allows multiple attendees to participate in chapter programs at an event space
$300 pays for a teen to attend a regional weekend-long convention

The Civil Rights Tour of the South was created by the late Todd Clauer to help create more well-rounded, compassionate HBHA students. It is an eight-day educational trip for ninth and tenth grade students, exploring the origins of the Civil Rights movement and Jewish activism. The trip includes visits to historical sites and discussions on modern injustices. Costs include transportation, lodging, and Kosher food. The trip is also open to non HBHA students, and four students from other institutions will attend this year. Students are encouraged to participate in fundraising efforts to help lower the cost of the program which is estimated at $2,200 per person. The total budget for the trip is estimated to be $41,000 as of 9-02-2025.

HBHA’s Upper School students connect with high school journalists throughout America and in Israel through the Jewish Scholastic Press Association. Send two chaperones to the JSPA annual conference to support HBHA students who write for the RampageWired and support our membership in an organization that brings Jewish values to journalism for $6,000.

Paraprofessional support is essential for students with learning disabilities. These aides provide classroom support and help create inclusive learning environments. The cost of paraprofessionals is typically borne by families, ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 annually. Funding will help cover these costs and ensure access to education for all students.

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy requests funding to help purchase 5 standing desks (costing $450 each) for special needs students. Research shows that special needs students that are able to use standing desks during a portion of the day typically display improved concentration, work quality and overall behavior. Standing desks are often listed as accommodations on evaluation reports for students with an ADHD diagnosis and those on the autism spectrum.

JCRB|AJC Kansas City requests support for youth and young professional programs including Student to Student (STS), Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT), PREP Program, and ACCESS. These initiatives aim to prepare the next generation to lead Jewishly, build bridges, foster community, and respond to antisemitism.

-STS: Launching in 2025, Jewish high school students will visit schools to demystify Judaism and combat antisemitism.
-LFT: Leadership program for high school students to build Jewish identity and respond to antisemitism.
-PREP: Helps students and educators identify and address antisemitism in schools.
-ACCESS KC: Young professionals advocate for the Jewish community through engagement and coalition-building.

The Rabbi Gershon Hadas Guardian Society seeks $20,000 to provide financial aid for immersive experiences for Jewish youth, including overnight summer camps, long-term Israel programs, and the HBHA Heritage Trip to Israel. Due to high demand and limited remaining funds, additional support is needed to continue offering scholarships, especially for the 2026 HBHA Heritage Trip, which expects more than 20 participants.

Kansas City NCSY and JSU inspires Jewish children and teens throughout the Kansas City area through a variety of programming. Its programs and activities are open to Jewish teens of all backgrounds and levels of observance. Here are ways to support NCSY and JSU:
$350 provides a relief mission scholarship for one teen
$250, $500 or $1,000 sponsors a Shabbat Shabang (sponsorship levels vary based on number of teens and number of Shabbat meals offered)
$1,800-$3,600 sponsors one JSU club for a year (sponsorship price varies depending on size of club and how often they meet)