Bob Ickes, a speech coach, mentor, and friend to us all iconically relayed that “every speech we deliver is a gift.” Bob advocated for Speech and Debate to become a more accessible activity, often paying for his student’s hefty tournament fines out of his own pocket. Bob believed that an activity that is designed to empower, like Speech and Debate, is an activity that everyone deserves access to. In Bob’s memory and honor, the Gift Givers Institute aims to support our speech friends from under-financed speech and debate teams to share the gifts that they want to share.

The Gift Givers Institute has accumulated a team of California’s finest student speakers to introduce Speech and Debate to our students, all under the guidance of Ms. Renea Moss, Speech Coach, Superintendent of Forge Independent Schools, and Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity at Summit Debate Camp.