$20,000 for Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League

PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 10 PA-Volpe-and-Koenig

The donation will fund the non-profit’s “Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League,” where 69 teams of Philadelphia elementary, middle and high school students compete each year. Volpe and Koenig will present the check to ASAP, along with student chess champs at the School Reform Commission meeting on March 11.

PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Between the hours of 3:00 to 6:00 P.M., more than 45,000 Philadelphia children spend time alone after school. While unsupervised, they have an increased risk of engaging in risky behaviors or even becoming victims of crime. In an effort to provide them with meaningful and stimulating after school activities, the After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP) has been providing kids in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods with programs that will permanently enrich their lives.

One of the most popular of the 400 clubs ASAP conducts is the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge, where 3,500 students play chess, with five rounds of rated, unrated and open tournaments.

On Wednesday, March 11, at 1:30 P.M., at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting at the School District of Philadelphia, 440 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia, ASAP will receive a $20,000 donation from the intellectual property law firm Volpe and Koenig, as part of its annual Charitable Giving Fund award.

Taking part in the check ceremony presentation will be: Jay Halt, president of Volpe and Koenig; Steve Schott, a Volpe and Koenig shareholder and member of the Giving Fund Committee; Maria Walker, Executive Director of ASAP; Marcienne Mattleman, President of ASAP; and the chess champions from Blankenburg Elementary, School, J.R. Masterman Middle School and Fels High School.

The $20,000 will help ASAP continue to fund the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League, as well as provide students with transportation to the event, and training and coaching throughout a two-year period. In addition, Volpe and Koenig will host a chess event at the firm in 2009, as well as serve in a mentor capacity for students. The Charitable Giving Fund will also award another $20,000 this month to BuildaBridge, which helps homeless students learn about life through the arts. To date, the Charitable Giving Fund has awarded more than $80,000 to smaller, non-profit organizations in the region.

Coverage is invited.

Volpe and Koenig, P.C. is dedicated solely to intellectual property law. With its experienced staff of more than 130 people, including over 50 patent attorneys, patent agents and technical advisors, the firm provides guidance on matters relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, technology acquisitions, licensing and litigation. Clients range from small business owners to large, multi-national organizations. For additional information, please visit www.volpe-koenig.com.

SOURCE Volpe and Koenig, P.C.