The Nick Watts Debate Foundation

23/03/2026

Today we were honored to contribute $1000 towards Little Rock Central Speech & Debate overall budget to keep up with much more funded programs.

Their success is truly an accomplishment. The Foundation's goal is to provide funding for incredibly talented young competitors to further enable them to become excellent.

This team just so happened to win the 2026 Harvard National Tournament -- to those who did not know, Nick was a debate coach at Harvard for several years. It was an institution he respected very much.

To the coaches (one of whom's husband knew Nick and went to debate camp with me) and students, thank you for carrying on the legacy of my brother, our champion! (I think I have that right -correct me if I'm wrong).

Keep winning debate tournaments!!!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-little-rock-central-speech-debate-w57yg?attribution_id=sl%3A24c68099-eb79-4918-acfb-4854f0c10378&utm_campaign=pd_ss_icons&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Help them beat their goal!

The Little Rock Central Speech and Debate team needs YOU! We are an … Genny Batcheller needs your support for Support Little Rock Central Speech & Debate!

23/03/2026

Update after a couple of years at this! *Link below*

- We were able to send two students who were junior TOC contestants to debate camps of their choosing, making large contributions to both and coordinating with camp directors to reduce costs as much as possible (Thank you to everyone!)

- Fund the entire deficit for student who applied for financial aid unable to attend OU's inaugural debate camp;

-Sent a promising young debater to Dartmouth Debate;

- Helped fund two UDL programs, one team specifically in the last week from Little Rock Central Speech and Debate Team, which is beating up on all the heavy, more funded teams;

-Helped numerous other students make the gap from their available funding to what he or she needs to make it a reality.

We are a small group and want to keep this up! Any assistance is very appreciated but please just keep checking in to see the updates we are hopeful to post as these recipients continue to grow up and do incredible things.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DN9FYWV8E8GUQ&fbclid=IwY2xjawQtrVRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9UTn0g39uxlczNuF_2JgOE_63b9D1DWnUwtrEHwwpeCOrdcND24w8banEC8_aem_3ky9DfC8LWKkGXsYcMJhqg

03/03/2025

Did you know that the first Friday in March is National Speech and Debate Education Day?! Nick was a debate coach at Harvard, and later throughout Asia spreading an activity he knew would bring his students both present happiness and long-term success.

Please consider donating this week so we can carry on Nick's tremendous legacy by providing more scholarships for debate education next summer!

For debate camps and institutions, please reach out to make arrangments for the determination of need-based scholarships for your tuition.

Thank you, Nick!

16/12/2024

On this birthday of our namesake and late brother, Nick Watts, consider a small contribution to another young debater's future. To my debate family, please take a short opportunity to reflect on the attributes that made Nick such an exceptional debater (and person).

Help support The Nick Watts Debate Foundation by donating or sharing with your friends.

28/08/2024

Portable Skills!

Join us tomorrow for a special webinar with Anthony Berryhill, PMP, MBA, M.Phil., for insights on using your speech and debate skills and experience to excel in the college admissions process. Register now! 💻➡ https://bit.ly/3A2a06F

15/07/2024

RECAP:
For our inaugural 2024 debate camp season, the small foundation was able to ensure that several promising students will be attending the debate camps of their choosing in the coming months.

The Foundation worked in connection with the LA Metropolitan Debate League to help send one of the top Junior teams in the country to a debate camp Nick and I actually taught labs at together. (https://www.facebook.com/lamdldebate/ support them directly here!)

The Foundation also worked in connection with OU Debate and Director Lindsey Shook to fund the remaining gap to fulfill all financial aid requests.

I am personally very excited to watch these teams in the coming year to see their great success. As always thank you so much to our contributors. Without your donations, several kids would be sitting on the sidelines this summer.

Finally, it's time to start thinking about next year. Donate here if you want 100% of your funds contributed directly to debaters in need.

12/06/2024

Help us send kids to debate camp! Read more about our mission by visiting and following our page.

Help support The Nick Watts Debate Foundation by donating or sharing with your friends.

12/06/2024

The community's generosity has been incredible! Thank you to each and every contributor. We have met (and exceeded) our goals for 2024 and our mission is being fulfilled.

Stay tuned for a community event in the not so distant future!

01/06/2024

The 2024 debate camp season is just around the corner and we have already started the process of selecting worthy candidates. Please consider donating so we can enrich the lives of as many young debaters as possible, starting this year!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CFDWAHNNU8TE4

30/05/2024

It's finally a reality. After talking with the Director of Debate at OU, Lindsey Shook, we are ready to send kids to camp THIS SUMMER. The opportunity to attend a summer debate institute can be essential to a young debater's growth and there is no more direct way to give back to debate in my estimation. We are a 0% expense non-profit - every cent will go to a beneficiary in need. After working at several debate camps with Nick throughout the years, I know this project would have meant a lot to him.

If you have any questions or suggestions you'd like to discuss with us, please don't hesitate to contact me at 405-249-8377.

While we miss you every day, Nick, we hope to create a lasting legacy befitting of your incredible accomplishments.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CFDWAHNNU8TE4

Sincerely,
Weston Watts

23/01/2024

Update: We are hopeful to begin our operations by the end of this calendar year! We are working with a firm to finalize our IRS documentation and I anticipate it will go smoothly with their assistance. Keeping the Foundation completely separate from any other existing 501(c)(3) has resulted in a lot more work, but we hope it enables us to operate completely independently to fulfill our vision moving forward.

To all of our supporters and followers, thank you for your patience as we have been endeavoring to get this Foundation moving with your generous contributions.

21/04/2021

First and foremost, thank you all for supporting this project. As a brief update, the Foundation applied for 501(c)(3) (non-profit) status last month and is awaiting response from the IRS. We are determined to provide opportunities to debaters as quickly as possible, but need to make sure we are doing so carefully on behalf of our contributors.