Anna Kordan fundraising for 2012 Team Debate by running the Boston Marathon!

In knew I wanted to give back to the Boston Public Schools, but I didn't know how to.

Then in 2010 a colleague roped me into attending a fundraiser for the Boston Debate League. I was hooked! In 2011, I began volunteering as a judge at the weekend tournaments and now, in 2012, I will run the Boston Marathon to raise money and awareness for the BDL.

What impressed me about the BDL is their ability to reach students across all academic levels, and not just cherry-pick the highest performing students. When you hear students who join BDL talk about what their lives were like before debate, you hear about students who didn't show up for class and were withdrawn from the learning process. Once the students become involved in debate, their attendance and more important, reading levels show impressive movement. Their interest in learning, college, etc. also ratchet. Debate has empowered these students in a way textbooks have not.

Please consider giving to this great organization. I thank you in advance for your support. Please remember to send happy thoughts on the day of the marathon as well.

More on BDL in the video and as follows:

Boston Debate League’s programming is unique among the city’s after-school and other youth development programs. BDL works with middle and high school students in a way that blends competition and fun with rigorous academic work. While many programs aim only to keep teens safe and occupied in the afternoon, debate provides an engaging, educational opportunity that actively cultivates social and academic skills. The BDL presents debate in a variety of ways so as to reach a broad spectrum of students, from those already highly achieving to those who are off-track academically and at risk of dropping out.