12-year old gives lesson on internet marketing potential
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
By popular demand, I have decided to re-publish a September 12 blog entry about chess whiz Ashley Tapp and her quest to fundraise for her trip to the World Championships in Slovenia in November. I ask all of my readers–especially Canadian, as Ashley is Canadian–to think of donating to her cause! You won’t find many better causes than encouraging a really gifted 12-year old!
Vancouver based 12-year old Ashley Tapp loves tournament chess and has even managed to qualify for the Youth World Championships to be held later this November in Slovenia. Not bad for a kid who hasn’t been playing very long…
This past week Ashley became something of an internet-sensation when she decided to start fundraising for the expensive trip to Slovenia (being a minor, she must travel with family). Sort of like a kid’s lemonade sale, but adapted to 2012 needs! Ashley is looking for something between $15,000 and $25,000 according to various accounts that I have read.
Being stunningly photogenic for her age, many of the most popular chess-websites quickly picked up her story. Ashely even created her own web page and facebook account! Not bad for a 12-year old! Former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk took up her cause and has allowed her to advertize Kosteniuk’s own line of chess products.
Local Vancouver media did several pieces on Ashley’s fundraising, including the video directly below:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExElU9JG8SY]
The ChessBase article tries to spin the fundraising campaign against the Canadian Chess Federation (CFC), implying that Ashley has for some unknown reason been denied the funds and support that she is entitled to. While I have no problem criticizing the CFC–and do so often on this blog with great pleasure and enthusiasm–in this case the implication is not quite well founded.
The Canadian Chess Federation is giving Ashley EXACTLY as much support as it gives to Canada’s top grandmasters and up and coming champions: NOTHING. The CFC is a completely bankrupt organization. Worse still, the incompetents running it are enough reason to scare away any potential sponsor…
IN ANY CASE, this author believes that Ashley is both precocious enough to realize this and ambitious enough to successfully do her own fundraising. I feel that Ashley will be able to raise enough money thru her excellent internet campaign to be able to go to Slovenia.
Should any of my readers wish to make a donation toward’s Ashley’s trip to Slovenia, then please check this out for more information.
BEST OF LUCK, ASHLEY!