The Shaun Alexander Foundation Donates $25,000 to Help Teach Chess to Kentucky's...

The Shaun Alexander Foundation Donates $25,000 to Help Teach Chess to
Kentucky's Second- and Third-Grade Students
Research shows that chess can help improve math and reading scores.

SEATTLE, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Seattle Seahawk running back,
Shaun Alexander, today announced that his foundation is donating $25,000 to
America's Foundation for Chess (AF4C) to help bring chess to classrooms in and
around his home state of Kentucky.
The contribution is a continuation of Alexander's commitment to the
nonprofit organization, and its mission to use chess as a learning tool in
second- and third-grade classrooms. Studies have shown that the game helps
children develop analytical skills.
America's Foundation for Chess trains teachers to incorporate one hour of
chess into their curriculum every week through its "First Move" program.
"Chess is a terrific game to help children become better thinkers," says
Shaun Alexander. "That's why we are teaming up with America's Foundation for
Chess to help bring the game into Kentucky's second and third-grade
classrooms."
"We are very grateful for all the support we receive from Shaun
Alexander," says Rourke O'Brien, president of AF4C. "His generous
contributions are helping our program reach more teachers and students across
the country."
Many studies have shown that chess helps advance children's critical
thinking skills and test scores. A study on the New York City School Chess
Program found that students who learn chess show dramatic improvement in their
ability to think rationally. Students who participated in school chess clubs
at four Houston-area schools improved their math and reading scores at twice
the rate of other students.
Previous donations from the Shaun Alexander Foundation helped bring the
First Move program to schools in the Seattle area. Alexander also sponsors a
school principal from Philadelphia who serves as an educational representative
on AF4C's board of directors. It is Alexander's goal to help make chess part
of the curriculum taught to every second and third grade student in America.
About the Shaun Alexander Foundation: The mission of The Shaun Alexander
Foundation is to empower youth through education, athletics, character
programs and leadership training, and to inspire them to reach their full
potential as mentors and role models for generations to follow. For more
information, visit http://www.shaunalexander.org.
Contacts:

Mark Firmani (206) 443-9357
Firmani + Associates Inc.
Mark@firmani.com

SOURCE The Shaun Alexander Foundation

Mark Firmani of Firmani + Associates Inc., +1-206-443-9357, Mark@firmani.com,
for The Shaun Alexander Foundation