The 2011 NAUDL Annual Dinner

Please join the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) at our Fourth Annual Dinner in New York City.

The NAUDL Annual Dinner
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Hilton New York
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

Pre-Dinner Reception: 6:00 PM
Annual Dinner: 7:00 PM

Urban Debate Leagues have produced life-changing academic outcomes for minority students, helping prepare them for college and beyond. Recent peer-reviewed research found that debaters in Chicago Public Schools graduated at a near 80 percent rate, compared to 55 percent for non-debaters. The study also showed that African American male debaters were three times less likely to drop out than their non-debating peers.

Celebrating the Growth of Urban Debate

This year, we will celebrate the growth of urban debate and its life-changing impact on students nationwide at our annual dinner, Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the Hilton in New York.

We are requesting your support for this important work by purchasing a table sponsorship for the 2011 Annual Dinner. The Annual Dinner is a crucial fundraising event for the NAUDL, raising nearly half of our annual revenue. Your efforts help ensure that young people attending school in our nation’s urban communities have access to high-quality debate programs and benefit from the attention of trained, caring adults as coaches.

Keynote Speaker: Ben Sherwood

We will welcome Ben Sherwood as keynote speaker this year. Ben Sherwood was named president of ABC News in December 2010. In this position he is responsible for all aspects of ABC News' broadcasts, including "World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer," "Nightline," "Good Morning America," "20/20," "Primetime" and "This Week with Christiane Amanpour." In addition, Mr. Sherwood oversees ABC News Radio, ABCNEWS.com, ABC News' satellite service, NewsOne and ABC News NOW.

Hear from Last Year's National Champions

This year's Dinner also welcomes back special guests Misael Gonzalez and Kevin Hirn, the 2010 Urban Debate National Champions. Mr. Gonzalez is a student at Trinity University, while Mr. Hirn attends Wake Forest University. The two champions will share their thoughts about the impact of urban debate on their lives and their paths to college.

Annual Dinner Sponsors

Dinner Patrons

Disney-ABC Television Group

Table Sponsors

Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk & Wardwell
The Hersh Foundation
The Joyce Foundation
Littler Mendelson
Jenner & Block
Massey & Gail
Meredith McClintock
Matt and Katrina Nichols
O'Melveny & Myers
Palisades Associates
The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation
Randal and Liz Sandler
Schulte Roth & Zabel
Sidley Austin Foundation
Ben Sherwood
TrialGraphix
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Jennifer and Peter Wade
Williams & Connolly
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr

Additional Dinner Supporters

Boston Debate League
Chicago Debate Commission
Dawn and Craig Budner
The Greystone Foundation
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Kirkland & Ellis
Chrissy Mahoney and Erik Jaffe
Lawrence Summers
Walmart
White & Case

Table Sponsorship Opportunities

The following sponsorship levels are available, and each has attached benefits. I hope to speak to you soon about a sponsorship at one of the following levels:

Event Champions ($20,000) will receive two tables at the Annual Dinner for up to 7 people each and recognition in the event’s invitation and program. They also receive invitations to a pre-dinner private reception with the dignitaries attending the Annual Dinner and National Championship. Finally, Event Champions have the opportunity to present awards to students competing at the tournament.
Dinner Patrons ($15,000) will receive one table and recognition in event materials, as well as invitations to the private reception.
Table Sponsors ($10,000) will receive one table and recognition in event materials.

Please make plans today and put together a table from your firm or with your friends and colleagues for the Annual Dinner. Your support is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. For questions, contact Barbara Carney at BarbaraCarney@urbandebate.org.

Hotel information

The NAUDL has a group rate at the Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY. The Hilton New York is the tournament hotel and site of the NAUDL Annual Dinner. The Hilton is offering a group rate of $265 a night for single and double occupancy rooms. Rooms are available at this rate from April 14 - 17, 2011. Guests should call in to make reservations at 1-212-586-7000 and request the "National Association for Urban Debate Leagues" block or code "NAU." Guests will be charged when they make their reservation; all reservations must be made by April 1, 2011.

Note that availability at the $265 rate is limited, so guests are advised to make their arrangements early. The NAUDL cannot guarantee availability of this rate to all guests.