About Us
Why promote PayPalChess.com
Quick question: What do you get your 65 to 105-year-old parent who has everything, needs nothing, and keeps insisting "just donate to charity instead"?
A chess pen pal. (Stay with me here.)
We created PenPalChess.com - a correspondence chess community where people play chess by mail. Yes, actual physical mail. With stamps and everything. Like it's 1945.
Before you roll your eyes, here's what I've learned: There's something magical about seniors getting handwritten chess moves in their mailbox. It's:
✓ Mental exercise (studies show chess delays cognitive decline)
✓ Social connection (but without the pressure of Zoom calls)
✓ Zero tech barriers (no passwords to remember!)
✓ Anticipation (waiting for a letter is exciting again)
✓ Pride (parents can show off their game scorecard to visitors)
One daughter said: "My dad talks about his chess pen pal more than his own grandchildren." (Don't worry, we didn't tell the grandchildren.)
**Why you should promote PenPalChess.com**
I think this could make a great post or article for your audience, especially around:
- Father's Day / Mother's Day gift guides
- Senior wellness and mental health
- "Old school" hobbies making a comeback
- Combating loneliness in elderly populations
- Gifts for "impossible-to-shop-for" parents
**The quirky details:**
- Games take 3-9 months to complete (slow TV, but slower)
- Players can range from age 15 to 102
- We match people based on skill level and likes
- Some games have been going on for over a year
- Some who participate in pen pal chess write poetry on their moves, via the postcards that are exchanged
I'd love to see an article written featuring PenPalChess.com. I can share:
-All necessary information can be found at penpalchess.com/about-8
- Data on senior loneliness and chess
No pressure - just thought this might be a fun angle for your audience.
Either way, thanks for reading! And if you know anyone with lonely parents who need a hobby, send them our way.
Cheers,
Founders, PenPalChess.com
