There she is in all her glory, Maison Newton, complete with a snow storm (those white specks caught by the camera on "scene" don't capture how hard it started snowing seemingly the moment I stepped outside to try and capture a night image of mon maison in all of its Christmas-time glory)! Let me tell you, that fireplace sure has come in handy:) This photo was taken on December 16 and we've gotten a lot more snow since then -- still a foot on the ground now, even after Friday and yesterday's "melt-off" (we had a high of 44 degrees F yesterday and it felt positively spring-like outside!) By this evening, temperatures will be back below zero F and the 'highs' for the next several days will be in the single digits F! Brrrrrrrr shiver shiver!
For U.S. taxpayers who itemize their deductions, many make year-end donations to "up" our charitable deductions for the year. If you are one of those fortunate enough to have enough deductions to top the Federal Standard Deduction, I ask you to please consider making a donation to either or - preferably - both of these very worthy chessly charitable endeavors!
The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation is conducting its 2013-2014 Annual Campaign to raise funds for the coming year's chessly activities. Straight from the email:
2013-2014 Annual Campaign
This year's annual campaign will run through Feb 1, 2014. Each year WSCF raises funds to complete its annual budget. Funds are used to offer scholarships at end of the year tournaments, pay entry fees for Title I students at tournaments, help students attend summer chess camps, purchase online chesskid.com memberships, and pay for FirstMove (FirstMove) curriculum in Milwaukee Schools. Over $1500 has been raised to date toward this years goal.
WSCF activities and annual budget continues to grow each year. The end of the 2012-2013 season found over 1650 players participating in over 45 tournaments across the state. Tournaments were held in Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Plymouth, Sussex, Fall River, Watertown, Kenosha, Port Washington, Greenfield, Waukesha, Fox Point, Glen Dale, Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee. Nearly 200 campers attended 14 camps from Baraboo, Sheboygan, Kenosha and places in between. This fall WSCF teachers taught in 13 different schools in the Milwaukee Metro area and WSCF helped 9 different schools start the First Move curriculum in it 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms.
Your continued support will help WSCF expand its mission of providing scholastic chess to thousands of students across Wisconsin.
To donate click on this link to give on line via our First Giving page Annual Campaign or mail a check to our office at: WSCF 2819 W. Highland Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53208. Your support is greatly appreciated.
You can make a donation online, I just did!
Seriously, every little bit helps these kids a LOT! If you prefer, you can send a check directly to the WSCF: WSCF, 2819 W. Highland Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53208. All donations to WSCF are tax-deductible for those who itemize their U.S. Federal income tax deductions. There are still a few more days to donate. Wouldn't it be grand to send WSCF on its way to 2014 with $1,000 or more in its funding!
Another one of my favorite chessly groups is 9 Queens! 9 Queens was established by Jen Shahade and Jean Hoffman in 2008 in Tucson, Arizona: 9 Queens is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through chess by making the game fun, exciting, and accessible. We offer free chess education programs specifically designed to promote critical thinking skills, academic performance, and self-confidence. Our mission is to use chess as a tool to motivate, empower, and engage under-served and under-represented populations to realize their potential and achieve academic and personal success.
Donations to 9 Queens are tax-deductible for those who itemize their U.S. Federal income tax deductions. I am proud to have been a supporter of 9 Queens since I first learned of the organization; for a few years, 9 Queens and Goddesschess collaberated to provide a special prize to the U.S. Women's Chess Championship.
Arizona residents have a special opportunity to direct their local tax dollars toward 9 Queens objectives:
You decide where your tax dollars go...
To support 9 Queens please dedicate your Public School Activity Tax Credit to the Mexicayotl Academy!
If you pay taxes in Arizona, you have two choices about where that money goes:
#1: Send your tax dollars to the state, where legislators will decide how and where that money will be used.
#2: Keep your tax dollars in your community by making a donation to an organization you support.
Mexicayotl Academy is a qualifying charter school that is able to receive your Public School Activity Tax Credit. This tax credit is in addition to and completely separate from the Private School Tuition and Arizona Charitable tax credits. You may participate in any or all three if you are able to.
Individuals can claim a credit of up to $200, and couples filing jointly can claim $400. Click for more information on the tax credit from the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Your donation affects our community and supports our mission by helping the Mexicayotl Academy students learn a skill that is proven to help them with their critical thinking skills in math and science and in their self esteem. They are the future of Tucson-help us give them an opportunity they might not have had without us.
To make your donation to Mexicayotl Academy:
- Mail your donation before Dec. 31, 2013, to Mexicayotl Academy 667 N. 7th Ave, Tucson AZ 85705
- Please note on your check that it is for the CHESS PROGRAM.
Also, 9 Queens is a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit EID#77-0711937 and your donations are tax deductible!
For donations to 9 Queens please send your check to:
9 Queens P.O. Box 41838 Tucson, AZ 85717
Or go directly to 9queens.org to click the donate now button.
I just made a donation to 9 Queens, and I hope you will consider making one, too! I know I sound like a broken record, but every little bit DOES help tremendously, because all of those little bit donations can add up! But only you can help them add up by making a donation.
If either of these chessly endeavors don't ring your chimes, please please consider making a chessly endeavor donation elsewhere. Chess in the United States is not a government-supported activity. Chess is not something on most people's radar! We chessly types must develop our future chess champions on our own, and corporate and charitable foundation sponsorship is sadly lacking for most of our local programs, in whatever state you live in. 'kay, enough said! Goddess bless you all, darlings, and I sure do hope you will be celebrating New Year's Eve like I intend to celebrate mine :) :) :)
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