ASAP After School Activities Partnerships

ASAP’s Directory Released
Wednesday, September 15th 2010
15th and Market Streets

Look for ASAP's Directory of After School Programs, published in The Philadelphia Daily News. ASAP staff will also be handing out copies of this free resource, which is organized by zip code, during the morning commute as well as during lunch hour. Look for them in their red t-shirts near 15th and Market streets!

Philly Plays Scrabble Kick-Off
Wednesday, September 6th, 2010
Central Branch of the Free Library

11:00am

ASAP's literacy initiative, Philly Plays Scrabble, will kick-off for the school year at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Students from throughout the city will then continue to play Scrabble weekly in ASAP Scrabble clubs at schools, libraries, and community centers throughout the city! For more information, please contact Emily Goss or 215-545-2727, ext 10.

Event 6
Thursday, April 23, 2009
To view our flyer, click here Lincoln Financial Field

The Eagles Youth Partnerships sponsors its annual all-day chess tournament for more than 200 of Philadelphia’s most competitive school-age students from ASAP’s Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge, with a special awards ceremony in the Eagles locker room. Chess Challenge students also will have an opportunity to flex their chess muscles in scrimmage games against several Philadelphia Eagles players. In addition, this year’s tournament will feature a chess simul with local chess expert Chris Miller playing 15 students at one time.
To view our flyer, click here

Chess Funders
Eagles Youth Partnership
Department of Health
Dolfinger-McMahon
Greenfield/Rosenberg
Phil Lindy
Mellon Charitable Trusts
Morgan Stanley
Neighborhoods Now
PECO
Phillies
Target
Henrietta Tower-Wurts
Townsend Foundation
Volpe-Koenig
Wachovia

Scrabble Funders
Comcast
Hasbro
The National SCRABBLE® Association
Parkway Foundation
PNC Bank
Verizon

Debate Funders
Fourjay Foundation
Lance Funston, Save a Mind Foundation

Dance / Yoga Funders
Dance:
Annenberg Foundation
Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust
The Food Trust
Yoga:
Patricia Kind Foundation
Penrose
People for People Charter

	Chess Challenge Kids Checkmate Violence in the Summer More than 50 Chess Challenge students and chaperones gathered in the Atrium of The Shops at Liberty Place on July 29 for some friendly competition between their peers and the Center City lunch time crowd. The students were eager to compete against the unsuspecting public, who often walked away from the board with a loss. Not before shaking hands and offering congratulations to their young opponents! Special thanks to Shops at Liberty Place and The Westin Hotel for making ASAP’s fourth annual Chess in the Summer a success!
	Lenfest Offers Generous Challenge Grant ASAP is pleased to announce a $250,000 challenge grant from The Lenfest Foundation. The Foundation will match dollar for dollar any contribution received until December 31, 2011, to be used to provide ongoing support for ASAP's after school enrichment programs. ASAP is grateful for the Lenfest Foundation's confidence in our work and commitment to Philadelphia's youth.
	ASAP Chess Players Receive Scholarship Awards! Five students from the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge received the first Chess Scholarship Awards for their prowess and participation in chess during high school. Mayor Michael Nutter announced the inaugural scholarship awards at a City Hall press conference on June 7, praising the students as “mentors” for other School District youth. Joining in the congratulations were Dr. Arlene Ackerman, School District Superintendent, and Congressman Chaka Fattah. The awards were made possible by Community College and Drexel Universities, and through the generosity of Vivian and Oscar Lasko at Temple University. These colleges are joining 20 other institutions of higher learning nationally recognizing the link between the strategic thinking skills that chess teaches and the importance of higher education. Click here to view the recipients of the awards as well as the ceremony's honored guests. Click the image to the left for coverage of the event from the Philadelphis Inquirer.
	"Spring into Scrabble" at the Franklin Institute Two-hundred students from ASAP's Philly Plays Scrabble program participated in this year-end event at the Franklin Institute, sponsored by Citizens Bank. Participants ranged from 2nd to 12th grade and represented twenty ASAP school Scrabble clubs! Prizes were awarded in each division for the highest scoring game, highest scoring play, and in honor of the Franklin Institute: the best science-related words! Students and coaches alike celebrated their improved skills as a result of this year's program and also had the opportunity to tour the museum! Special thanks to our year long Philly Plays Scrabble supporters: Comcast, Verizon, PNC Bank, Hasbro and the National Scrabble Association.
	ASAP's Philly Dance at the Piazza! More than 100 students from ASAP’s Philly Dance program came from every region in the city to the Piazza at Schmidt’s June 3rd to perform for friends and family, and to celebrate what they had learned throughout the year. The evening included performances by students ranging across all grade levels and in several styles of dance, and the audience got on their feet and joined in the fun with lessons from some of ASAP’s hip hop and ballroom instructors. Highlights included a tap dance routine by K and 1st graders, elementary school students performing intricate ballroom numbers, and middle and high-schoolers wowing the crowd with several hip hop performances. Thanks to The Annenberg Foundation and Tower Investments for supporting this event.
	Philly Girls Play Chess Tournament More than 100 girls from ASAP’s Chess Challenge clubs competed in the Third Annual Philly Girls Play Chess Tournament at Drexel University. The tournament featured three formal rounds with students competing for trophies and medals, and IPods donated by PECO. Lynn Yeakel, Exec. Dir. of Drexel’s Institute for Women’s Leadership and Health addressed the girls in attendance as well as Women’s International Chess Master and Drexel student Alisa Melekhina. The Philly Girls Play Chess Tournament – sponsored by the Institute – is the culminating event of the year in ASAP’s on going effort to support and encourage young female chess players to continue playing.
	Annual Chess Day at New Venue: Please Touch Museum ASAP’s Chess Challenge students got to show off their new chess skills at ASAP’s annual Chess Day held on May 19th at the Please Touch Museum, sponsored by Wachovia. About 190 students from 18 Chess Challenge clubs attended the event, where they were organized by skill level and given one directive: “play as many games against students from other schools as you can!” The students dove in with gusto, making new friends, and sharing new chess strategies and tricks. For many students, the Chess Day was their first opportunity to play against youth from other clubs and experience an informal tournament setting. Sheppard School Chess Coach Jamie Roberts was grateful for the unique opportunity afforded her students: “Many of my students come from high poverty backgrounds and don’t have a chance to attend events,” she said. “Chess has taught them critical thinking skills and consequences, which are so important in their lives.” The students also had a chance to tour the Please Touch Museum.
	Community Yoga Night: An Antidote to Violence ASAP introduced more than 30 students and adults at the Honichman Learning Center in North Philadelphia to the benefits of yoga on Wed., May 12. In the teen class, a group from Dobbins High School paused from their busy day to learn about different poses. “I like yoga because it’s relaxing and everything goes my way,” said Melissa Jeter, a freshman. When asked to sit quietly and visualize a peaceful place, another freshman, Tyreek Elam, said he was in a garden with a waterfall. “I want to go back to my garden,” he said, and added that through yoga he has learned that he can listen to his body. Elementary and middle school students also participated, and some students brought their parents. Raffle prizes, including yoga mats and gift certificates for yoga classes, were made available through contributions from Delaware Investments, Lululemon Athletica, Yoga Child and Dhyana Yoga Studios.
	7th Annual Eagles Chess Tournament More than 215 students from 3rd-12th grades, representing elite players from the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge, competed at Lincoln Financial Field in the 2010 Eagles Chess Tournament sponsored by the Eagles Youth Partnership on May 5. Between rounds students faced off against Eagles players Safety Quintin Mikell, Offensive Lineman Winston Justice, and Safety Quintin Demps. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only play at the Linc but compete against actual Eagles players, not on the field but over a chess board. Clymer School sixth-grader Isaiah Harris reported after beating Winston Justice, “I feel happy playing chess because it’s like a whole other world. It helps me do better in school…it’s the smartest game in the world.” The day-long tournament included a chess simul with two-time Women’s Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade and ended with a special awards ceremony in the Eagles Locker Room.
	Third Annual PECO-ASAP Checkmate Violence Chess Marathon Mayor Michael Nutter kicked off the 2010 Checkmate Violence Chess Marathon with a 45 minute game against Janiya Ashlock, a fourth-grader at Bache Martin School. More than 200 students participated over the 24-hour period with 50 students and chaperones staying overnight at Temple University's Gittis Student Center. "It's hard trying to keep your eyes open," said Eighth-Grader Zachary Santiago of the marathon. "But I didn't lose my concentration. I'm really surprised I made it through the whole night!" Zachary took home a First-Place trophy! Two-time Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade played 20 high school students simultaneously, and students also participated in Speed Chess, Bug House and other chess games throughout the night. Special thanks to PECO Energy for their ongoing support and commitment to Philly's youth!
	PSDL Student Qualifies for State Debate Championships! Last week Jalon Alexander, an 11th grader from Bodine High School, competed in the State Championships for the Pennsylvania High School Speech League (PHSSL), advancing to the quarter finals! Jalon, who excels in Lincoln Douglas Debate and competes regularly in the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League, qualified for the State Championships after placing second in his division at the regional district tournament. This year ASAP sponsored 9 Philadelphia high schools to join PHSSL, including Bodine, allowing Jalon and others like him the opportunity to compete with seasoned debaters from schools that have strong legacies within the debate community. Jalon's victory at districts, which advanced him to States, was a victory for Philadelphia's debate program.
	Chess Challenge Brings Home Trophies from States! The Chess Challenge offers an excellent example of the power of teamwork: each year for the past three years, ASAP has sponsored a group of Chess Challenge students from different clubs to compete at the PA State Scholastic Chess Championships in Carlisle, PA. The first year, the Philadelphia teams took home 16 trophies; this year the number more than doubled to 40! For many of these youth, it was their first time outside of Philadelphia or staying in a hotel, and their competition consisted mainly of students from private and suburban schools. Through a generous contribution from local chess enthusiast Phil Lindy, 50 of the best chess players in the Chess Challenge competed. Click here for the results; click the image for more photos.
	Chess League Finals Determine City Champs Congratulations to all the teams who competed in the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League Finals amongst the pharaohs at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology! 69 teams began the season with their eye on the city Championship, but in the end only three teams could emerge victorious! A special thank you to ASAP's guest Andrea Malone of Volpe and Koenig whose support has made the Chess League possible, and to local philanthropist, Phil Lindy, whose support will send 50 Chess Challenge students to this year’s PA State Chess Championships in Carlisle, PA.
	Scholastic Chess League Semi-Finals are held at Citizen's Bank Park! After a 12-week season of regional chess matches sponsored by ASAP and involving 69 public school teams, the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League held its semi-finals at Citizens Bank Park. Special thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies and chess league sponsor Volpe & Koenig, P.C. Congratulations to the winning teams from the semi-finals, who will compete for the Championship at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology! Click here to view the match-ups for the Finals.
	Philly Plays Scrabble Mid-Winter Tournament The School District Atrium was filled with the sound of thinking on February 4th, as 150 elementary and middle school students participated in Philly Plays Scrabble's Mid-Winter Tournament, sponsored by Comcast, PNC Bank, and Verizon. "Ponder! Ponder!" coached Cidney Alexander to her team of 6th grade students from Hackett School. "It's a thinking person's game. It's not a race." Ms. Alexander is a literacy teacher who uses Scrabble to help her students identify the prefix, suffix and root of words. She said the students delight in seeing their own growth each week as they improve in the game and in their reading skills.
	MLK Family Chess Day More than 200 Philadelphia school students, their parents and chess coaches gathered to play chess in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the African American Museum of Philadelphia. Congressman Chaka Fattah played seven students simultaneously! Mr. Kenneth Salaame, Philadelphia Freedom Fighter, spoke about his experience working with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Philadelphia and in the South. This is the third annual MLK Jr. Family Chess Day to honor the memory of Dr. King and his philosophy of non-violence.
	Leadership Philadelphia Partners with ASAP! Volunteer club leaders from Leadership Philadelphia will be co-leading a Philly Plays Scrabble Club at the Caring People Alliance after school program at Ferguson School in North Philly. The new group of volunteers is made up of professionals from Leadership Philadelphia, whose mission is "to mobilize and connect the talent of the private sector to serve the community." In addition to the Scrabble club, the group also will share information on their careers and education with the students.
	Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League Finals The Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League ended its 10-week season of Public Forum style debate with Central High School's Lucas Koerner and Sophia Mayne-Deluca taking first place. At the Debate Finals held in December, special guest speaker The Honorable Pamela P. Dembe, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, encouraged students to stay in school and stay involved in debate. Special thanks to PSDL sponsor, the Save A Mind Foundation, and congratualtions to all of the PSDL student debaters on an exciting season!
	Philly Plays Scrabble Tournament Philly Plays Scrabble month culminated in a city-wide tournament for novice players at the Community College of Philadelphia, sponsored by Comcast, PNC Bank, and Verizon. Pictured are the winners of the Adult, High School, and School Scrabble divisions, as well as special guests, Deputy Police Commissioner, Charlotte Council, and a representative for Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. Council and Ayers kicked off the month-long Philly Plays Scrabble program in early October when they challenged each other to a friendly game at Central Library.
	Delaware Investments Supports ASAP's Kids ASAP is grateful for contributions received from the Delaware Investments Charity Golf Classic. Delaware Investments President Pat Coyne is shown receiving a traveling chess set from ASAP Executive Director Maria Walker during a recent visit to Franklin Learning Center’s Chess Club. Jerel Hopkins and Ania Mikson of Delaware Investments Charity Selection Committee look on.
	Philly Plays Scrabble Kick-Off: Battle of the Commissioners! Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers faced off in a friendly competition against Deputy Police Commissioner Charlotte Council during the Philly Plays Scrabble Kick-off event at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on Oct. 1. Assisting the commissioners are Briana Douglas, a sophomore from Carver HS Scrabble Club, and Khaleef Burns, a sophomore from Carver HS Scrabble Club. Also in attendance were representatives from longtime Philly Plays Scrabble sponsors, Verizon, including Verizon President Gale Given and Director of Public Relations Jim Reed. ASAP also wants to thank additional sponsors Comcast Foundation and PNC Bank.
	Chess in the Summer Chess Challenge students and coaches won't let their chess skills go unchallenged in the summer months! Instead they gathered on August 12 at the Liberty Place atrium to challenge each other, as well as passersby, to a friendly game of chess. Special thanks to event sponsor Volpe and Koenig, P.C. for ensuring that Chess Challenge kids remain safe and active throughout the summer.
	Philly Girls Play Chess ASAP held the second annual Philly Girls Play Chess Tournament – the only all-girls chess tournament in the city. More than 150 of Philadelphia young female chess players competed in a formal tournament at Drexel University’s Creese Student Center in May. Philly Girls Play Chess is ASAP’s citywide initiative to increase the number of chess playing girls in the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge. The event was hosted by Drexel’s Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership and sponsored by the Hamilton Family Foundation.
	Spring into SCRABBLE! At the National Constitution Center One hundred and fifty youth (2nd-12th grades) from ASAP's 'Philly Plays SCRABBLE' program participated in the third annual "Spring into Scrabble" event, hosted this year, by the National Constitution Center. This year's event provided youth from ASAP Scrabble clubs with the opportunity to meet and challenge peers from across the city who share their love of Scrabble. Students were also paid a surprise visit by Mayor Michael Nutter who praised them for their involvement in the city-wide school Scrabble program. Philly Plays Scrabble is sponsored by Comcast, Hasbro, The National Scrabble Association, Parkway Corporation, PNC, and Verizon.
	Eagles Chess Tournament More than 200 of Philadelphia’s top youth chess players competed where the Eagles usually battle on the gridiron during the Eagles Chess Tournament sponsored by the Eagles Youth Partnership on Thursday, April 23, with Samuel Fels High School taking top honors. Students from 40 Chess Challenge clubs participated in the formal tournament and played scrimmage games between rounds with several Philadelphia Eagles players, including Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles tight end; Akeem Jordan, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker; and Sav Rocca, Philadelphia Eagles punter. In addition, this year’s tournament featured a chess simul with local chess expert Chris Miller, who played 15 students at one time. The students finished the day with a special awards ceremony in the Eagles Locker Room, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Eagles Youth Partnership!
	Community Yoga Night at Shaw Beacon! ASAP, Shaw Beacon, and Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia sponsored a Community Yoga Night at Shaw Beacon, during which members of the community, including adults, teens, and elementary school students took advantage of free yoga classes led by ASAP yoga instructors and learned techniques for reducing stress. Afterward, volunteers from The Reiki School & Clinic and Philadelphia Community Acupuncture provided wellness information for participants, some of whom also received door prizes, including 10 free class cards, courtesy of Wake Up Yoga.
	Checkmate Violence Marathon Mayor Nutter helped kick-off the Second Annual PECO-ASAP Checkmate Violence 24-Hour Chess Marathon with a half-hour long chess match against Marqel Styles, Cleveland School. More than 250 Chess Challenge students and chaperones participated with 100 spending the night at Temple University’s Gittis Student Center playing a variety of chess games, including speed chess, bug house, a coaches tournament, and an exciting chess “simul” with 20 Chess Challenge kids competing at one time against two-time US Women’s Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade!
	Center City Law Firm Contributes to Scholastic Chess League Jay Halt, President of Volpe & Koenig, presents a check in the amount of $20,000 to ASAP’s Executive Director Maria Walker and ASAP's Chess Coordinator Windsor Jordan, for the support of the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League. Members of the Blankenburg Chess Club, with coach Mikyeil El-Mekki, were winners of this year’s Chess League finals for the elementary school division. The team members proudly display trophies won during the Chess League finals and at this year’s State Chess Championship in Carlisle.
	Scholastic Chess League Finalists Celebrate with Don Tollefson & The Phillie Phanatic! The 2008-09 season of the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League culminated in a final championship tournament at Citizens' Bank Park, where both Don Tollefson and the Phillie Phanatic recognized individuals with outstanding performances during the regular season. Fels High School and Blankenburg Elementary were crowned first time champions, while Masterman Middle School retained its title from the previous year.
	Congressman Fattah attends the MLK Family Chess Day ASAP and the African American Museum of Philadelphia hosted the 2nd annual Family Chess Day. The event was the brainchild of Chess Challenge coach Mr. Gil Motley. In the spirit of Dr. King's philosophy of non-violence, ASAP's Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge kids honored his memory by showing that playing chess after school is a safe, enriching positive alternative to violence. Chess Challenge kids invited family, friends, guardians or caregivers to play chess for peace on MLK weekend. People new to the game had an opportunity to learn as well. Congressman Chaka Fattah competed against 6 Chess Challenge kids simultaneously.
	Northeast High School Receives Top Honors at Debate League Finals! District Attorney Lynne Abraham and ASAP supporter Lance Funston congratulated all the students who participated in the 2008 Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League finals on December 17. Students from 17 teams competed in the Debate League, up from 9 teams in 2006. This year's finals were held at LaSalle University.
	ASAP's Philly Dance Clubs Shine! ASAP showcased six after school dance clubs featuring Philadelphia youth - from elementary, middle and high schools citywide - in the PHILLY DANCE: DON'T MISS THE BUS TOUR at the Penrose School, 2515 S. 78th Street, sponsored by The Annenberg Foundation and The Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust.
	Mayor Nutter and Dr. Arlene Ackerman Help Celebrate Philly Plays SCRABBLE® Month! City Coucil recognized October 2008 as Philly Plays SCRABBLE® month, highlighting ASAP's partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter and School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman helped kick-off the month long literacy celebration, which features a city-wide tournament for wordsmiths of all ages.

	Chess Challenge Kids Checkmate Violence Mayor Michael Nutter congratulates Nyeem Alston, 5th grader at Cleveland Elementary School, after Alston beat the mayor in four moves at the PECO-ASAP Checkmate Violence 24-Hour Chess Marathon held at Temple University and sponsored by PECO.


	Spring Into SCRABBLE® ASAP’s PHILLY PLAYS SCRABBLE® kids struck the right chord at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts during the Spring Into SCRABBLE® tournament, sponsored by Parkway Corp.

	Marciene Mattleman - ASAP's President & Founder ASAP's president, Marciene Mattleman, Ed.D., has been the founder and executive director of five non-profit initiatives, one of which - Philadelphia Futures - was honored at the White House by President Clinton. She is a board member of several non-profit organizations, and in May 2008, she received the Philadelphia Award, the city's highest civic honor, recognizing her lifelong tireless work to improve the quality of life and education for Philadelphia's youth.
A little time makes a big difference!