Please vote for Murray Fisher at http://thegentlemensfund.com/final_vote.asp GQ asked readers to nominate an agent of change striving for the betterment of society through charitable work, volunteerism, and/or community involvement—someone who is working hard to make this a better world. GQ selected the five best submissions as finalists and readers have determined the potential winner by popular vote.

One if the five finalists of the 2009 Better Men Better World Search is an old Friend of FBYC. Vote now.

Murray Fisher has dedicated his life to the environment and education. His greatest and proudest achievement is the New York Harbor School, a public New York City high school he started at the age of 28.

Murray comes from a family of organic farmers outside Richmond, Virginia. Clearly influenced by his upbringing, after college Murray went directly to work for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at Waterkeeper Alliance, a worldwide environmental organization. For four years he was responsible starting 60 new Waterkeeper programs. He left full-time work at Waterkeeper in 2002 to serve on its Board and to explore other ways of broadening the reach and efficacy of the environmental movement.

Seeing that many New York public schools were failing and feeling that water access in New York City seemed only for a privileged few, Murray decided to start a public, maritime school. In the fall of 2003—with no formal education experience—Murray and his team opened the New York Harbor School with 125 students in the space the city provided: the then phasing-out Bushwick High School in landlocked Brooklyn.

Most of the Harbor School’s students come from Bushwick neighborhood, where over 80% of the students live below poverty and most enter high school far below grade level in math and reading. Yet six years later, the Harbor School is flourishing, with 400 students in grades 9-12, and an average graduation rate of over 70%, almost three times the previous Bushwick average and far above most city schools with similar demographic. Furthermore, nearly all of these graduates have gone on to college, including full scholarships to schools like Cornell and Middlebury.

With a rich curriculum of boat-building, sailing and environmental stewardship, the school desperately needed access to water. After a long and hard-fought battle, the school will be moving to an ideal location in September 2010: Governors Island. It took several years, but Murray persisted through red tape and bureaucracy, and eventually secured the most beautiful public school campus in New York City for his students. Murray, with the help of his team, is changing the lives of his students. He knows each by name as well as many of the parents. In addition to his role making policy and helping run the school, Murray raises over $300,000 annually to fund the extracurricular activities that make the NYHS so unique and successful. I cannot say enough about the drive, dedication and charisma of Murray Fisher. The students, teachers and school supporters all love and respect him. He can single-handedly change the mood of a room or party and is full of ideas, energy and life. I hope you will give Murray the recognition he deserves. His ultimate goal is to create these 'water schools' wherever there is a failing school system and an unprotected waterbody. With access to the right resources and support, I truly believe Murray Fisher could change the world.