A message from director Keith Ammann:
I want to thank you for reading this message.
If you're like me, you've been swamped by fundraising appeals these past weeks: some that moved you to give, some that made you wish you could give, some that you sent straight to the trash.
So I want to thank you for reading this message, because it means you care about the Chicago Chess Center and our mission to bring chess closer to all the people of this city—young and old, newbie and expert alike.
And it's people like you who are going to make the Chicago Chess Center a reality. My fellow board members and I can't do it alone. To make this bird fly, we need a community of supporters to help us lift it off the ground and launch it.
That's why it's so important to show your support by donating today, before the flag falls on 2013.
The question we're asked most often is, "Have you found a site?" But it does us little good to search for a site if we don't have the funds to secure one. We've set a startup fundraising goal of $30,000 so that we can sign a lease, start building out and furnishing our space, and begin offering classes and events in as quick a time frame as possible.
We're already working on a couple of events for early 2014, but what we need most is simply to get our doors open. We've been promising you and other Chicagoland enthusiasts a new metropolitan chess organization for a long time. Now we need to deliver on that promise. Please give today and help move us closer to our goal.
You'll be in good company: not just the 27 early adopters who've become Founders' Court members by donating $250 or more, but also all four Chicago-area Grandmaster players, who've shown their support by joining the Chicago Chess Center advisory board.
And as you may already be aware, we're an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible in 2013 if you send it before midnight tonight.
You're still reading this message—why? Maybe you believe in giving children access to high-quality chess instruction in a safe and friendly environment. Maybe you believe in creating an open and welcoming gathering place where curious beginners can discover the joys and benefits of chess. Maybe you believe in restoring Chicago's standing among great chess cities. Maybe you believe in all these things—or maybe you're just looking for some good competition.
Whatever your reason for supporting the Chicago Chess Center, please show your commitment with a year-end donation today. We thank you for being a part of our community.
Keith Ammann
President, Chicago Chess Center NFP Inc.
P.S. Have a safe, happy, healthy and trouble-free new year!