2008 Money Conference
Cash checkmate
Cash checkmate
States in international competition. And that was a war. He got me tired. But eventually, I got him. Iit took two and a half hours to finish that one. I go around the
country playing chess. I’m used to it. But at night after a series of matches, I just pass out on the bed because it is very tiring. They warmed me up with the
matches at the UW-Madison, gave me some food for lunch, which got me sleepy and then they threw an even harder group at me. Fortunately, I was able to
tackle them too and win all of the games.”
It is these types of qualities and character that Richard Entemann and Robert Wynn are trying to instill in young people each year when they host the
Money Conference. “I think the bottom line is that wealth-building success in life is really based on good education,” Wynn said. “While we talk about money and
financial literacy, it is really literacy in general, education in general that we support. We know that education needs to be more interactive. Chess is a good
foundational, skill-building tool for providing analytical thinking for individuals.”
This year’s conference attracted about 200 participants from across the community with the largest contingents coming from the Boys & Girls Club and
Madison Pentecostal Assembly and additional support coming from Faith Community Christian Church and Tue Believers Community Church.
Cory Foster, staff for the Boys & Girls Club’s Money Matters program, felt the Money Conference was so important for his young protégés that he held a sleepover
at the center the night before so hr could make sure they were in attendance. Although he had little sleep in the past two days, Foster was enthusiastic about the
conference and its impact on the students.
“Last year, when we came, we didn’t have that many kids,” Foster recalled. “And a lot of kids weren’t involved because they didn’t understand it. But this year
what made it so beautiful and unique is that we have more kids and workshops. And the workshops are actually a lot of fun for the kids while at the same time
they are learning how to invest their money. If they start now, they understand the equity can build up. This is not just for adults. I had one kid come up to me
and say ‘Cory, you know what? If I save $25 every two weeks, I can get me a car when I am 18 years old.’ I said ‘What took you son long to think of that.’ He said ‘I
just left the credit union and they were telling me a lot of stuff on saving my money.’ It’s nice to see a success story. And these kids having fun at this workshop
and they are receiving real knowledge. I really respect that.”
Foster noted the impact that the conference was having on another of his protégés. “I had one girl say ‘I never knew that talking about bonds and funding
can be so fun,’” Foster said. “I asked her ‘What makes it so fun.’ She said ‘I like the part when they break it down and tell me what is a savings account. When
adults tell us, we get an understanding of it.’ Now she is ready to put money into it. All she needed was the definition. Now that she knows what it means, who
knows? She can probably save $100,000. I think it is so beautiful seeing a young kid trying to grasp and understand the concept of money.”
It is this grasp of the fundamentals of life, whether it is chess or finances, that will make these students strong players as they reach adulthood in the game of life.
country playing chess. I’m used to it. But at night after a series of matches, I just pass out on the bed because it is very tiring. They warmed me up with the
matches at the UW-Madison, gave me some food for lunch, which got me sleepy and then they threw an even harder group at me. Fortunately, I was able to
tackle them too and win all of the games.”
It is these types of qualities and character that Richard Entemann and Robert Wynn are trying to instill in young people each year when they host the
Money Conference. “I think the bottom line is that wealth-building success in life is really based on good education,” Wynn said. “While we talk about money and
financial literacy, it is really literacy in general, education in general that we support. We know that education needs to be more interactive. Chess is a good
foundational, skill-building tool for providing analytical thinking for individuals.”
This year’s conference attracted about 200 participants from across the community with the largest contingents coming from the Boys & Girls Club and
Madison Pentecostal Assembly and additional support coming from Faith Community Christian Church and Tue Believers Community Church.
Cory Foster, staff for the Boys & Girls Club’s Money Matters program, felt the Money Conference was so important for his young protégés that he held a sleepover
at the center the night before so hr could make sure they were in attendance. Although he had little sleep in the past two days, Foster was enthusiastic about the
conference and its impact on the students.
“Last year, when we came, we didn’t have that many kids,” Foster recalled. “And a lot of kids weren’t involved because they didn’t understand it. But this year
what made it so beautiful and unique is that we have more kids and workshops. And the workshops are actually a lot of fun for the kids while at the same time
they are learning how to invest their money. If they start now, they understand the equity can build up. This is not just for adults. I had one kid come up to me
and say ‘Cory, you know what? If I save $25 every two weeks, I can get me a car when I am 18 years old.’ I said ‘What took you son long to think of that.’ He said ‘I
just left the credit union and they were telling me a lot of stuff on saving my money.’ It’s nice to see a success story. And these kids having fun at this workshop
and they are receiving real knowledge. I really respect that.”
Foster noted the impact that the conference was having on another of his protégés. “I had one girl say ‘I never knew that talking about bonds and funding
can be so fun,’” Foster said. “I asked her ‘What makes it so fun.’ She said ‘I like the part when they break it down and tell me what is a savings account. When
adults tell us, we get an understanding of it.’ Now she is ready to put money into it. All she needed was the definition. Now that she knows what it means, who
knows? She can probably save $100,000. I think it is so beautiful seeing a young kid trying to grasp and understand the concept of money.”
It is this grasp of the fundamentals of life, whether it is chess or finances, that will make these students strong players as they reach adulthood in the game of life.
Money Conference organizers Richard Entemann (l-r)
and Robert Wynn joined by Boys & Girls Club’s Cory
Foster
and Robert Wynn joined by Boys & Girls Club’s Cory
Foster
By Jonathan Gramling
Like chess, financial planning takes a lot of patience, looking ahead, knowing the rules of the
game and keeping one’s cool. As the behemoth financial companies like Lehman Brothers and
Merrill-Lynch fell last week and the stock market began to plunge, it was those who kept to their
financial game plan and kept their cool — not making rash decisions — who would most likely come
out on top in the long run.
Maurice Ashley, the first African American to ever achieve the rank of chess grandmaster who
appeared at the Money Conference on August 16, knows what it means to stay focused and keeping
one’s whits about him. Over the course of a day, he played two rounds of playing simultaneous chess
matches with up to 22 players. “When I take on 22 people at one time, on every board, there are
different levels of players, Ashley said. “Some players are experts. Some are just beginners. It’s all over
the place and you just have to be ready for each board you go to.”
Ashley came upon one exceedingly challenging game while he was here. “Brian Luo is 11 years
old and the number two in the country for his age group,” Ashley said. “He’s represented the United
Like chess, financial planning takes a lot of patience, looking ahead, knowing the rules of the
game and keeping one’s cool. As the behemoth financial companies like Lehman Brothers and
Merrill-Lynch fell last week and the stock market began to plunge, it was those who kept to their
financial game plan and kept their cool — not making rash decisions — who would most likely come
out on top in the long run.
Maurice Ashley, the first African American to ever achieve the rank of chess grandmaster who
appeared at the Money Conference on August 16, knows what it means to stay focused and keeping
one’s whits about him. Over the course of a day, he played two rounds of playing simultaneous chess
matches with up to 22 players. “When I take on 22 people at one time, on every board, there are
different levels of players, Ashley said. “Some players are experts. Some are just beginners. It’s all over
the place and you just have to be ready for each board you go to.”
Ashley came upon one exceedingly challenging game while he was here. “Brian Luo is 11 years
old and the number two in the country for his age group,” Ashley said. “He’s represented the United