Margo Clark Program for Innovation

Chess Without Borders is saddened by the premature death of a chess family member, Margo Bradley Clark. She was a pillar of support to the non profit and a dedicated volunteer. Margo helped establish the chess program with her rare qualities of intelligence, ability to put others first and hard work. She was always ready to embrace diversity in all its various forms from ideas, cultures and various socioeconomic groups.

Margo exhibited an amazing combination of virtues such as generosity, kindness, humility, flexibility and humor. She exercised these qualities in her mentorship of students who served and are serving in the Presidential Youth Service program at Chess Without Borders. From helping develop the chess program in 2003 to organizing youth leaders, hosting students from abroad, to supporting unique projects and being a permanent volunteer at chess tournaments Margo’s loss will be felt immensely by all who came in contact with her.

Chess Without Borders will establish a Margo Clark Center for Innovation where youth will be given support to start small social entrepreneurial companies. Youth leaders will use their talents and hard work to create and develop projects that serve others in any area they feel they can excel. The impact of their investment will be measured in the quality of the work, time they invest, the people they serve and the innovation they apply to the project. The youth leaders will be recognised for their initiative through collaboration with national awards programs and by Chess Without Borders.

Margo leaves behind a devoted husband Jeffery Clark, children Jack, Jane and Matthew and an entire community who are all grieving but ready to establish a center where her work and unique human qualities will be remembered.

The following students have formed social entrepreneurial companies in honor of Margo Clark that will carry her mission. Adult Mentors will be GM Shulman, Dr Kiran Frey, Rishi Sethi and Zein Bertacchi.

1. Chess United

CEO Ethan Gagliano

I had many interesting opportunities over the past six months where I could incorporate Chess United into the community. I served as Tournament Director at several scholastic chess tournaments. I helped teach a weekly chess club at a local elementary school. I worked with both the Marco Island Youth Chess Club and the Marco Island Senior Chess Club helping members with tactical skills and playing Simul games. I assisted GM Yury Shulman with two summer chess camps. I taught chess to local kids from the Barrington Council for the Gifted and Talented at their annual family game night. I continue to work with Dr. Kiran Frey and Chess Without Borders on Project Meher/MGCC.

All of these endeavors have been extremely rewarding to me. My goal has been to spread chess knowledge, enable socialization crossing generations, and to inspire other to serve.

The impact of my work has been phenomenal both for me and those that I served. I was able to donate proceeds of my wins, devote my time and become aware of people who are not as fortunate as me.

2. The Music and Dance Company

CEO Sahitya and President Sanjaya Maheshwaram

We have periodically performed dances at Sunrise of Barrington and at various fund raisers for victims of hurricanes and other charity events.

3. Chess Tutors

CEO Prathik Kandimalla and President Arnav Batta

Raised over $300 through tutoring chess and math. We have taught children chess and volunteered as directors at chess tournaments.

4. A Greener Tomorrow

CEO Dunya Diyadawagamage and Yuneth Wijenayake

We started an environmental movement in Columbo, Sri Lanka and the US. We created A Greener Tomorrow. Our mission is informing the public about the dangers and alternatives to plastic (mainly through social media). My first project is teaching the Barrington Community how to create reusable t-shirt bags from old t-shirts, rather than using plastic or bulky reusable bags. During my last year at Barrington High School, I am working on utilizing lunchroom and classroom waste for composting and creating cardboard tops to make our recycling bins more inviting for only recyclable materials.

5. Vishals Workshop

CEO Vishal Ahuja

I started a chess club at The Boys and Girls club in Austin Tx. The curriculum is from the textbook Chess! Lessons from a Grandmaster so its easy to get organized as each chapter is a lesson I can teach.

6. Art Expressions

CEO Ayushi Shah and President Aryan Shah

I do henna creations for fund raisers and at chess tournamnets. I have raised $100 for the computer center in India.

7. Cultural Adventures

CEO Eleanore van Marjwik Kooy

8. Next Step Tutoring Company

CEO Stevan Zhu

I started a chess club at The Boys and Girls club in Elgin. IL

9 .Music Without Borders

CEO and PresidentPranav and Prashant Ramachandra

We bring music education to schools and kids who may not afford classes.

10. Service

President and CEO Joelle and Brennan Moy

We volunteer at various fundraisers to serve food, do publicity and marketing.

Visit to view our work: https://patch.com/illinois/barrington-il/introducing-youth-collaborative-learning

11. Environmental Watch

CEO Sienna and President Amaya Sulkin

12. Margo Clark Enterprises

A service company with Jack Bradley as CEO and Jane Bradley as President

13. Chess in Uganda

CEO Divine Mugerwa

President Danila Ssenyomo

Visit view the work we have done so far: https://patch.com/illinois/barrington-il/sunny-hill-school-students-shine-uganda

14. Jack of all Trades

CEO Abhijit Gehlaut and Jack Bongiorno

President Siddharth Gehlaut

We can cook, clean, sell food and hustle at any job required to raise funds for charity. We even travelled to Delhi, India to visit the children we have helped by raising funds so that they can have computers last summer. I presented some options for them to learn on line.

Siddharth is at Stanford University where I will continue the work we started especially now that I met so many of the kids we are educating.

October 2017

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Welcome to the world of entrepreneurs. We try to create a winning combination of learning chess with service and philanthropy.

This newsletter serves to keep you updated on all the opportunities available for our students to excel at any level. We welcome any budding social entrepreneur to create projects that make a difference in this world.

Visit newsletter here

Barrington Hills resident and Gourmet cook, Zein Bertacchi along the non-profit Chess Without Borders has donated almost $104,000 to various local and global charities. One of the ways this remarkable feat was possible was through food. Through her enthusiasm and talent for cooking Zein Bertacchi was able to convert hundreds of youth into social entrepreneurs. Under her leadership youth learned to play host as they helped to cook, serve, clean and create an atmosphere of excitement by doing things for others.

Zein Bertacchi is a Microbiologist by professional and she will be at Countryside School serving homemade Middle Eastern food at the Countryside School Chess Tournament. 100% of the proceeds of the tournament will be donated to a charity for the Chicago Chess Center whose members are trying to bring chess education to the public.

You can help by playing in the tournament on the 17th of May at Countryside School or by joining us for a meal that day anytime from 10 am to 3 pm.

For information go to: http://shulmanchess.com/tournaments/

Rima and Zein seen here preparing fresh food at the 6th Annual Hough School Tournament that raised over $7000 to charity this year.

Margo Clark Program for Innovation

Margo Clark Center for Innovation

Remembering a shining example of service to others

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