About Us - The Silver Knights Story

The Silver Knights Story

I have played chess ever since I was a teenager. I played in numerous tournaments and as a young man earned a USCF rating of 1700. A couple of years ago I had to have major surgery and during the long recovery period I decided that I would like to teach children how to play chess to give something back to my community.

I contacted the Chess Emporium in north Phoenix and in the fall of 2006 and got a part time job teaching chess to 5 elementary schools (about 100 students in all) each semester. The job entailed driving many miles to schools all over the Phoenix metro area. While working for the Chess Emporium, I wrote the Coaches Training Manual that they now use to teach thousands of students each year.

In the spring of 2007 I developed Fibromyalgia, a very painful muscular condition. I was no longer able to keep up with the children and all the driving that was necessary even with pain pills. I was in a lot of pain after every class. I still wanted to teach chess but I needed to find a way to teach much closer to my home. I also needed to find students that were easier to keep up with than the children. I decided that there might be a need in nursing homes for seniors who might want to play chess, but had nobody to play with.

I thought about how one day I may be in a nursing home, and how sad it would be if I could not find someone to play chess. So in July of 2007 I decided to start The Silver Knights, which is an informal [not a 501(c)(3)] nonprofit organization. Doing some research I discovered that chess reduces the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease by 60 percent! This means that The Silver Knights not only improves the quality of life for the seniors, it also saves lives!

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disorder leading to significantly impaired memory followed by impaired thought, speech and finally complete helplessness and death. I can think of no sadder way to end my life.

In addition to preventing Alzheimer’s disease chess is a quality of life issue. Chess is fun to play and provides a connection to other people that words cannot convey. Seniors deepen their relationships with other seniors and even children who come and play chess with them. I hope to organize some Jr/Sr. chess tournaments in the future. The seniors enjoy beating their grandchildren in chess. A happier life often tends to be a longer life too.

Presently I go to 3 different living assisted homes, nursing homes and senior centers within a 5-mile radius of my home near Bell and Scottsdale Rd. and teach about 15 seniors a one-year course on how to play chess. Each class is a half hour of lecture and a half hour of supervised play. With my health the way it is, this is about the most I can possibly do. This is why we need volunteers to teach chess.

I also train other chess-playing volunteers (The Silver Knights) on how to teach chess to the elderly, and I generate promotional and teaching materials for them to use. We now have a total of two knights including myself. In time I hope to have at least 20 Silver Knights who will cover all of the Phoenix metro area.

In time I also hope we can have Silver Knight chapters in every major city in the United States.

Right now I am investing my own money to get supplies but I have maxed my credit cards and desperately need supplies, so we could use help.

Here is how you can help.

• Please go to the home page and look at the 3 ways you can volunteer 1 hour per week to help save the lives of seniors near you.
• Please make a financial donation. Even your pocket change can make a difference. We are looking for companies and individuals who would like to help support our effort. Just make the check payable to “The Silver Knights Alzheimer’s Charity.” And mail it to The Silver Knights 6854 East Kelton Lane, Scottsdale, AZ. 85254-1524 or even easer, please go back to our home page and make a donation with your credit or debit card with PayPal on the right side of the home page.
• You can purchase custom made products online shirts, mugs, caps etc and the profits go to the charity. http://www...press.com/silver_knights

• If you are a business and would be willing to keep a small 8.5 x ll display in your store so that customers can drop in their pocket change, just let me know. Call us at 480-948-4315

• We have an “Support-A-Senior” program where for only $10 dollars per month for a year you can help a senior have a lot of fun while avoiding Alzheimer’s disease and the donator gets a quarterly email letting you know how their senior is progressing as well as being honored on our Honor Page. Send check and your interest in Support-A-Senior to the address above.

Donations go to cover promotional materials, trophies and awards, teaching supplies, chess sets, custom flash cards, folding tables and other expenditures as well as special chess sets for the visually and physically challenged.

• You can donate lightly used chess sets, chess books, chess clocks, and chess magazines to the address below.

• If you have experience in fundraising or applying for grants,
  please contact us.

Sincerely,

Patrick Ellis
(Coach Patrick)
National Head of The Silver Knights Alzheimer's Prevention Charity