John McKay’s original mission statement for Voices Foundation

In my opinion, debate is the most valuable activity a high school student can partake in. I cannot possibly imagine any other pursuit that I will ever engage having as many positive effects on my life. In my brief time as a competitor and instructor, however, I have come to the conclusion that the value of debate, like many of the things in my life, came as a byproduct of those around me.

Financially, my parents had the means and desire to support my trips all over the country and the endless streams of summer camps. Communally, I was surrounded by talented competitors and caring people who constantly sacrificed their time and effort to help me improve. What has come to sadden me, however, is the fact that very few people are blessed with the unlimited opportunities that I have always been given. Many former debaters choose to give back to the activity that had given them so much through judging, coaching, and working at camps. For me, as a student, these tradeoffs were certainly the most worthwhile deals imaginable. All I had to do was have my parents write a check, and I was granted the privilege to learn from brilliant individuals. Unfortunately, such tradeoffs are not as simple for those who do not have the economic capacity to pay for camps, traveling, tournament registrations, etc. There is nothing more heartbreaking to me, as a competitor and instructor, than witnessing such barriers preventing individuals from fully actualizing their desire to participate in the activity that I owe everything to. This is a problem that is combatted on many levels, from camps giving financial aid, to schools and communities and local groups granting money to debate programs, to organizations like the Urban Debate League fostering debate where it otherwise would not have blossomed, but there’s always room to improve. Although I’ve been told that teaching at camps, or judging rounds, or coaching kids, is sufficiently ‘giving back’ to the community, I remain somewhat skeptical…

To my chagrin, I don’t feel that my current involvement has come anywhere close to paying the debts I owe to debate.

To allow a personal channel to remedy my own desire to more adequately ‘give back’ to debate, and what will hopefully serve as a more widespread vehicle for those inside and outside of debate to help foster the growth of our activity, I’ve decided to start Voices Foundation for the Promotion of High School Debate. Financially, I plan on donating at minimum half of the money I earn from judging, coaching, and working at camps to this non-profit organization. In the short term, plans are in the works to host a round robin and host a summer institute to support Voices. Both the round robin and the camp will be completely free. Donations to Voices, for those with the means, will be encouraged for those attending both events.

Voices will also establish an array of annual awards, to recognize individuals on a variety of levels (student, parent, and coach) who embody the selfless spirit that Voices will require in order to flourish. In the long term, I hope that this organization will have the capability to sponsor and support the individuals who truly wish, but are economically powerless, to maximize their participation in debate. Such assistance could occur on multiple levels, from funding for camps to assistance in paying for tournaments (travel, registration fees, etc.) and other debate related activities.