2013 Barrington Community Character Counts Award

This is the speech that they gave on the behalf of Dr. Kiran Frey as she received her 2013 Barrington Community Character Counts Award at the Barrington Village Hall on Monday Evening.  The Barrington Junior Women’s Club organized and delivered the presentation to the Award Recipients:

I imagine that many of you are familiar with or have heard of Barrington’s fabulous “Chess without Borders” program.   Our next award recipient, is Dr. Kiran Frey.  She works with Yury Shulman who is the Grandmaster who runs the Chess Clubs in District 220.   This wonderful organization has been busy for over ten years shaping the skills and lives of many Barrington students.  Kiran works behind the scenes: setting up tournaments, following up with kids and keeping them contributing to the chess clubs’ larger initiative of Service and Philanthropy.  They have raised over $80,000 over the years of which over $35,000 was donated to a little girl in India who was badly burned when her mosquito netting caught fire. They helped to fund her surgeries and are now continuing to assist with her education.  At every tournament, a portion of the sales goes to a charitable cause.  Not only have they helped internationally, but also close to home.   They have raised money for Citizens for Conservation as well brought the love of chess and chess games to city schools.

Kiran continues to seek out opportunities for chess players to make a difference in our community and the world around them, an important lesson for all of our children.  She is also very positive, always praising the smallest contribution, from both parents and chess players, when her additions are probably the most significant.  One close associate described her as “making magic by getting students to believe that they can accomplish something even before they really can and an amazing person who really makes things happen.  She doesn’t let a student slip through the cracks, instead, she gently nudges them to be their best.  Kiran has had a profound impact on the students she works with and actively seeks out scholarships for them in her spare time.  Indeed over 100 students and 5 teachers from Chess Without Borders have been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award.    Through chess clubs and tournaments, Kiran, Yury and everyone at Shulman Chess are teaching our kids to be respectful, caring and mindful, all while having fun, playing chess- an excellent message.  While many are deserving of recognition within this special organization, Kiran especially exemplifies the spirit of this award as the “unsung hero” silently and tirelessly giving to others.  Kiran Frey is wonderful asset to our community and a great example of a Character Counts winner.

Click here for further information in regards to the Character Counts Awards and all recipients this year: http://www.living60010.com/BJWC-Character-Counts-Awards-2013.aspx#