Welcome, at long last, to the Indie 500 Science Fair! While these puzzles were originally intended for use at the 2020 Indie 500 Crossword Tournament, we’ve released them in a non-competitive format, because the real prize... is the science we learned along the way! This puzzle pack will raise funds for a wonderful group of nonprofit organizations, detailed below, that were chosen by our organizers and constructors.
In this charity puzzle pack, you’ll get to take a tour of the projects that our budding cruciverbologists have been working hard on. (For the full effect, print these puzzles out on extra-large paper, then paste them onto a tri-fold poster board before solving.) There are eight puzzles of various sizes and difficulties, including a warm-up puzzle and a tiebreaker puzzle. Puzzle 6, “Final,” comes with two sets of clues: one that’s about as tough to make a dent in as diamond, and one that’s a little more malleable. Solutions are also included (though precipitates are not).
To get a copy of the puzzle pack, make a donation of $10 or more to any of the charities listed below, send a copy or screenshot of your receipt to xwordtournament@gmail.com, and we'll email the puzzles within 24 hours.
We are also currently offering all of our past tournament puzzle packs for free. Use the links below to download.
With this puzzle pack, we are raising funds for the following charities and nonprofit organizations:
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Learn more at redcross.org.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of Asian Americans in Georgia and the Southeast through policy advocacy, organizing and civic engagement, impact litigation, and direct legal services. Learn more at advancingjustice-atlanta.org.
Carmichael Outreach, located in Regina, Saskatchewan, provides various services to those in the local community who experience poverty and homelessness. Its mission is to foster empowerment through dignity, respect, and advocacy. Learn more at carmichaeloutreach.ca.
Casa Ruby is an LGBTQ bilingual and multicultural organization in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area that provides preventative health services, housing services, social services, immigration services, and support services for victims of violence. Its mission is to create success life stories among transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Learn more at casaruby.org.
The Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund fights for reproductive justice in Mississippi and offers financial assistance and practical support to persons seeking abortion, as well as free emergency contraception and community-based comprehensive sex education. Learn more at msreprofreedomfund.org.
The New England Grassroots Environment Fund is dedicated to energizing and nurturing long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe, and environmentally sustainable communities throughout the six New England states. Learn more at grassrootsfund.org.
The Players Alliance is a group of more than 150 Black current and former professional baseball players dedicated to creating an inclusive culture within baseball and the community, where differences are leveraged to elevate racial equality and provide greater opportunities for the Black community, in the game of baseball and beyond. Learn more at theplayersalliance.com.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Learn more at thetrevorproject.org.
Womankind provides multilingual and culturally responsive services to help survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence rise above trauma and build a path to healing. Learn more at iamwomankind.org.
