March 6, 2024Dear Chess Team Supporter,We are writing to inform you that the Thomas Edison Chess Team is on the road again! We are headed to Atlanta, GA to compete for the National Middle School Chess Championship. With your support, our students have won first place at the National Chess Championship in 2014, 2016 and 2018. The pandemic prevented safe travel to most tournaments for a few years, but we returned last year and placed 13th at the High School Chess Championship. Yes, a team of 2nd through 8th graders defeated most of the high school chess teams in the nation! Our students come from some of the most struggling communities in Delaware but at Edison we provide a safe, challenging, and joyful environment for them. Many of the chess students you have supported over the years, are now attending colleges such as Cornell, UVA, University of Delaware, N.C. State PhD program, Cheyney University, Delaware State, Wilmington University, Lincoln University, and so many others.
There are over 300 students in our school who play chess during the school day at breakfast, in the lunchroom and in our after-school program. Your support is reaching a large number of children. In May, we will be taking 15 students to the Middle School National Chess Championship in Atlanta, GA. Our students are very excited about competing again in the Nationals this year, which will take place from May 10th to May 12th in Atlanta. In order to provide each student on the team an opportunity to travel to Atlanta for 5 days, we will need your help. The cost, including airfare, hotel, meals, and tournament fees for fifteen students, will be approximately $15,000 ($1000 per student). Students in the inner-city rarely have the opportunity to travel, but with your support they can be exposed to many wonderful and diverse experiences.
Recent Accomplishments
2023 Princeton Scholastic Chess Championship, 1st Place, December 2023, Princeton, NJ
2023 National HS Chess Championship, 13th Place team, April 2023, Washington, DC
2014, 2016 and 2018 National Chess Championship, 1 st Place Team TX, IN and GA
We hope you will consider making a donation to our chess team. You can sponsor one or more students, or any amount you give will be appreciated. Please make all checks payable to Thomas Edison Charter School, with chess team in the memo section or you can donate through our “Go Fund Me” page at http://www.gofundme.com/EdisonChessTeam2024. Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a thank you letter confirming your donation and indicating our tax-exempt number. Your commitment to children is paying huge dividends. “Every Child Deserves Someone To Be Crazy About Them.” They can’t do it without you. You have been instrumental in their success! God Bless You for your service to children!
Thanks for your support,
Salome Thomas-ELHead of School
Click Here to support the Chess Team!
Related Links
Go Fund Me Link
2024 Chess Fundraising Letter