We’re nine passionate competitors from the Franklin Forensics Club, and this May, we’re heading to Chicago for the NCFL Grand National Tournament—one of the most competitive and prestigious speech and debate competitions in the country!

Our team earned bids across Dramatic Performance, Original Oratory, Extemporaneous Speaking, Congressional Debate, and Duo Interpretation, and we’re ready to proudly represent the #1 public school in Orleans Parish on the national stage.

How We’re Getting There: Just One Cent Per Mile ✈️

Chicago is 832 miles away, so we’re asking you to sponsor our journey in increments of just one cent per mile: $8.32.

It’s a small ask with a big impact. Whether you give…

💰 $8.32 – One cent per mile for one competitor
💰 $16.64 – One cent per mile for two competitors
💰 $74.88 – One cent per mile for all nine competitors

… or more, you’re helping dedicated competitors bring their voices to a national stage. Join us on our journey to Nationals!

Where Your Money Is Going 💸

We’re committed to transparency—here’s how your donation will support our team members:

The Costs Each Competitor Would Bear Without Your Support:

🛌 Lodging: $336 – Four nights in Chicago’s illustrious South Loop
🚀 Travel $268 – Round-trip flights and ground transportation
🥪 Food $165 – Five days of pure Midwestern debate fuel for hungry teenagers
👾 Miscellaneous $95 – Caffeinated sips, museum trips, and hotel worker tips
🏆 Entry Fees $75 – Up to eight rounds of intense competition

This would amount to a whopping $939 per person! By donating you’re supporting a diverse, student-led team. We fundraise to ensure every qualified team member can compete, regardless of financial background.

Why It Matters 💬

At BFHS, we welcome all competitors. We students train together, coach each other, we even budget for and design our own fundraising pages! Our program is:

✅ Student-led
✅ Equity-driven
✅ Focused on growth

Every competitor has earned their place by practicing regularly and competing in at least two tournaments this season. With your support, they’ll shine on the national level.

Donor Perks 🎁

🌟 Single Cent Sponsors ($8.32+) – Receive a custom thank-you postcard from Chicago
🌟 Ten Cent Teammates ($83.20+) – A postcard PLUS our 2025 t-shirt signed by all competitors
🌟 Hundred Cent Heroes ($832.00) – Previous perks PLUS a custom Chicago Care Package!

And because we love friendly competition, we even have some perks for our teammates:

🥇Top Fundraiser on the Team: Gets to choose our Friday night dinner spot!!!

Thank You!!! 🙏

Your support gets us there. It amplifies young voices. It invests in confidence, performance, and leadership. And it tells nine dedicated competitors: you believe in our potential.

🧡💚 From all of us at BFHS Forensics—thank you. On to Nationals! 🧡💚

🎤 BFHS Speech & Debate Nationals Fundraiser 🎤

By Friends of Franklin

🎤 BFHS Speech & Debate Nationals Fundraiser 🎤

Help Get Us to Chicago! 🌆

Team Members