Politicians at chess event to woo voters

Politicians+Candidates to Play in Central Falls Chess Invitational
Wednesday, February 19, 2014

It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “a political chess match.”

A number of Rhode Island elected officials and candidates will square off with the Central Falls Chess Team – the reigning state champs – at a fundraiser for the team at The Dorrance in Providence on Monday, February 24.

The Central Falls chess team, who won the state championship last year, finished high nationally as well: the middle school team tied for 7th of 53 teams and the high school 8th of 65. The indefatigable team has snagged 11 state high school championships and 12 state middle school championships in the past 13 years. Each of the six times the team has attended the Super National tournament, they have finished in the top ten.

RI Power Players to Meet Up and Comers

The event will begin with a cocktail reception from 5:30 to 6:00. Proceeding the reception, there will be a meet and greet with the team, followed by the Invitational as well as classes/shadowing, food, and a silent auction.

Politicians and candidates have stepped up to raise funds by taking on the intrepid Central Falls squad. Confirmed attendees at Monday’s event include Lorne Adrain, Ernie Almonte, Ken Block, Mayor James Diossa, Jorge Elorza, Councilor Hugo Figueroa, Mayor Allan Fung, Councilor Stephanie Gonzalez, Representative John Lombardi, Seth Magaziner, Councilor Tia Risty Siegel, Brett Smiley, Councilman Michael Solomon, and Mayor Angel Taveras.

The Central Falls team got a big boost last year from Alec Baldwin, whose foundation donated $2,500 to the team to help pay for its trip to Super Nationals in Nashville, Tennesee. But even Baldwin wasn’t bold enough to challenge the team to go head to head.

Tickets for the event are still available, with three levels of donation to choose from. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the team and the event, go here.

“Last year’s invitational with Rhode Island CEOs was a great mix of fundraising and demonstrations to our top business leaders the impact this game and these amazing coaches are having in a community,” said host committee member Mike Ritz. “Monday’s invitational will be another confidence builder for these kids as they show-off their strategic skills to public sector leadership, our elected and want-to-be elected officials.”

Source: http://www.golocalprov.com