VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 29, 2011 — International Speaker Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson, founder of BE SOMEONE, is 980,000 students away from his lifetime goal of reaching one million youngsters with his message of "making every move in life count." BE SOMEONE's latest interview on CNN speaks for itself:
On Monday, April 2, Hudson will present "Creating Visibility for The Least, The Last & The Lost" at the AFP 2012 International Conference on Fundraising.
Session Title: Creating Visibility for The Least, The Last & The Lost (HT5)
Date & Time: Monday, April 2, 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Location: Vancouver Convention Center, Rooms 301-305
www.afpmeet.org/speaker.cfm?id=9938
Hudson will begin with a short video of the publicity that has been generated to get visibility and funding for BE SOMEONE, his nonprofit organization dedicated to using numerous tools including the game of chess to promote self-esteem, responsibility and analytical thinking. In this presentation, fundraisers will discover the street smart common sense that Orrin uses to attract and harness visibility for low- to no-cost publicity.
USA Today's Life section ran a full front page and a half on Orrin Hudson's journey from Alabama state trooper to teaching chess to at-risk children that he describes as the least, the last and the lost. His imposing image made the cover of Sports Illustrated Teen. ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and many affiliates have given Orrin airtime and footage at no cost.
Hudson states, "I grew up in a tough housing project in Birmingham, AL, in the 1980s, never far from gangs, drugs, and criminal activity. Fortunately for me, I met an exceptional teacher who put me on the right path. He got me interested in the game of chess. He turned me around."
"Watching the aftermath of a mass murder in Queens was another personal wake-up call," Hudson continues. "I decided to follow the example of my own teacher and use chess to turn around troubled kids. Nine months later I sold my business – auto sales and repairs – and launched BeSomeone.org. As of this year, we've helped build the character of about 25,000 young people – our goal is one million – to inspire them through the game of chess. There's nothing better than hearing a parent say, 'Thanks for not giving up on my child. He's making the right moves.'"
Hudson concludes: "Even if I had $1 million in my pocket, I'd be a failure if I stood by while kids were killing other kids. The success stories of my chess kids really inspire me, and I hope they inspire you as well. Let's not give up on them."
Please visit www.besomeone.org for more info.
Sports Illustrated Teen cover: www.ereleases.com/pic/Orrin-Checkmate-Hudson.jpg
Photo: www.ereleases.com/pic/Be-Someone.jpg
Contact: Kim Rice, 770-465-6445, Email
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