Orrin C. Hudson is a soldier on a mission to help at- risk children make better decisions in life using a very unusual weapon: a chessboard. Through his nonprofit organization Be Someone, the former Alabama State trooper, and chess champion travels around Atlanta to area schools teaching kids the game of life using chess as a metaphor. "Everyone can be someone if they simply make the right moves," says Hudson during his workshops.
Hudson founded the organization in 2001, after hearing about a robbery at a Wendy's restaurant in which seven people were murdered for $2000. "People heard about that and went about their business," said Hudson. "I heard about it and couldn't sleep." Since then, Be Someone has mentored over 16,000 students, and has had amazing success in increasing students' grade point averages, classroom participation and attendance.
Hudson hopes his program's success will inspire others to volunteer their time and money to Be Someone, Inc., organization. "When good people fail to act, evil prevails," said Hudson. "Get in the game. You can be a part of changing the world one move at a time."
Be Someone's mission is to teach troubled youth strategic thinking skills and better life strategies through the game of chess. To learn more about the award-winning programs at Be Someone or to donate online, visit www.besomeone.org.