The Barbara Rose School Chess Tournament was held on June 9th 2012 at the Barbara Rose Elementary Chess School in Barrington, Illinois. There were 92 players who competed in the tournament, over 100 visitors and another 10 students and 10 adults who volunteered in a variety of roles to make the tournament an educational success. Four sections in the tournament were USCF rated but there was also a non rated section for new players to be introduced to chess tournaments. It was exciting for the players to be able to go over their games with special guest Woman’s Grandmaster Anna Sharevich from Belarus and Woman’s International Master Viktoria Ni.

Another star attraction to the tournament was Gourmet Cook Rima Said from Amman, Jordan who led the volunteer team as they served homemade Middle Eastern food. The mission of Chess Without Borders is to combine chess education with service and philanthropy and this was well served by the team of ten student and ten adult helpers. Students were exposed to the rich world of service and philanthropy by learning valuable skills such as public speaking, hospitality, leadership, organization, cooperation, accounting, cooking and most importantly cleaning up. The tournament raised $700 for the King Hussein Cancer Foundation in Jordan and proudly submitted the check to Ms Rima Said from Jordan.

Local businesses Bertacchi Builders and Nature’s Farm generously donated supplies for the tournament.

Picture of some of the volunteers donating the money to Ms Rima Said for the King Hussein Cancer Foundation.

Students develop confidence and create their own projects as a direct result of the social entrepreneurship fostered through the program.  An example of  this was 2nd  grader Ethan Gagliano who donated $50 at the tournament for sending a little girl living in the slums of India to summer school. Ethan addressed the crowd telling them that he wanted to keep aside some of the money he was given at his 1st communion for this little girl with very few opportunities.

Picture of Ethan speaking to the crowd with Ms Gruber and CEO of the tournament Zachary George (in the red shirt) looking on.

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