November 2003

Dear Friends of Chess:

    I ask for your support for the US Chess Trust: the only tax deductible 501(c)(3) organization that has a proven track record of supporting chess nationwide. With your donations last year, we gave out 1676 chess sets and boards to 294 different schools in 43 states. We also provided 961 free USCF memberships to students in 23 states qualifying for the free lunch program. The Trust is proud to fund the Scholar Chessplayer Program that gives out annual scholarship funds to graduating high school students who qualify based on both academics and chess achievement. We support the Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions, which draws participants from most states. We also support the World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Museum in Miami. I urge you to visit the Museum if you have not already done so. Everyone who does enjoys it, from grade school students to GMs.

    Other Trust activities now include support for the US Chess Olympiad teams, including the new Women's Olympiad Training program set up by GM Susan Polgar. The Trust supports American participation in the World Youth and World Junior Championships. Our board of 12 trustees, including GM Arnold Denker, and our founder, Harold Dondis of Massachusetts, includes trustees from the East, South, Midwest, and West who serve without compensation. Our annual meeting held in August during the US Open is open to all to attend. In 2004 it will be in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; last year it was in Los Angeles.

    As Trust Chairman I am proud of what the Trust has done so far for chess. With your help we can do much more. While we prefer unrestricted donations, you can note on the enclosed coupon, on the memo line of your check or in any accompanying letter specific projects you wish your donations directed to such as scholastic chess, the Women's Olympiad, the Men's Olympiad team, the Denker and the Museum.

    Thanks for your continued support for chess! Contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to "US Chess Trust" and sent to US Chess Trust, c/o Barbara Vandermark, 3054 US Route 9W, New Windsor NY 12553. You can also pay online by going to www.uschess.org and clicking on the Chess Trust.

Cordially,

Harold J. Winston
US Chess Trust Chairman