Perot Systems

International Healthcare Group Sponsors Salvation Army Chess Tournament for London Homeless

On February 25, the Perot Systems International Healthcare Group proudly sponsored the Salvation Army’s Chess Tournament for the Homeless in London. Salvation Army centre resident Shaun Underwood received a first prize of £25 in cash and £25 of gift vouchers after winning the tournament. Medals and other small prizes were awarded to 2nd and 3rd place winners and all participants left with a participant gift.

Tim Lankes, managing director of the Perot Systems’ International Healthcare Group, said, "We were delighted to sponsor the chess tournament. Our London team is very active in community support and this event gave us another opportunity to provide both practical and financial support to a worthy cause. We chose to support the London Salvation Army centre in Mayfair throughout 2008 because we believe in the work they do in London to provide important support for the homeless."

Perot Systems associates, Salvation Army staff and the chess players.

Twenty homeless people took part in the competition, organised by Salvation Army staff, and held at The Salvation Army centre in Rochester Row. Perot Systems associates Mary Pangbourne and Tim Sheppard provided on-site support for the event.

Tournament winner, Shaun Underwood, came to London in March last year to find accommodation, and found a home at a Salvation Army resettlement centre. He has been a chess player for the last 30 years and says the game helps him to cope with being homeless and his situation.

Shaun said, “The competition has been good fun, but tough. I’d like to see more competitions like this.”

The competition was the idea of Mirek Polanowski, a Senior Project Worker at Rochester Row. Mirek said, “We have a weekly board game session where people play chess and which the guys seem to enjoy. I wanted them to be as involved as possible, and they helped to organise our first chess competition.”

Andy Baynes, project coordinator at the local Salvation Army that Perot Systems supports, said after the event, “We have had such fantastic feedback so far - it is wonderful. It really was a super event. Thanks so much for Perot Systems’ efforts!”