Grove Avenue Chess Tournament a Success

Nov 172011
 

On the 12th of November the Grove Avenue Elementary School hosted the Grove Tournament. There were 119 registered players who competed and along with their families helped the chess program raise $375 for charity through food sales. We are grateful for this opportunity as it advances the mission of the program in many ways. We are able to teach our students the value of service, to raise funds for humanitarian causes, advance knowledge of chess and introduce volunteerism to students as young as six. Our students continue to win awards and scholarships for their work with Chess Without Borders. Sujit Johnston has recently won a Kohl’s scholarship honoring his work with Chess Without Borders.

A special salute goes out to 10-year-old Toby and his family who represented the many children born with cleft lip, our volunteer from India Ms Sudha Dang and our volunteer leaders Isabella Anzulde and Jane Bradley. Many adult volunteers who help serve food are shinning examples of service for our students. They bring dedication, enthusiasm, diversity and spirit to the tournament. We are specially honored to welcome our volunteer assistant tournament directors, Madison Rossi and Scott Mc Millen who did a great job learning with Shulman. Another thank you goes out to Nature’s Farm for their donation of milk to this and every tournament. Ron Swanson our musician turned chess volunteer donated coffee and his time along with Ms Dang who donated cookiesfor the tournament. Lastly, we want to thank Juan Garcia, the Janitor from Grove who was outstanding in his service at the tournament and provided for all our needs.

A $25 donation was made to Chess Without Borders by Serge Minin to be used towards an entry fee for a needy student. Matthew Friedman, a 3rd grade Elementary School teacher in the Bronx NY donated $10 for Project Meher. We are grateful for their generosity and interest in helping our program.

Deep gratitude to our professional photographer Joseph Ridgway generously spent his time and talent to photograph all our students in action.

We are donating $275 to Smile Train and $100 to Dub Studios as this studio had produced the documentary for our program. This brings the total donations made by the chess program to $67,413 +$375=$67,788

Including $25,961 for Meher.

 

The program started by Dr Kalogeropoulos and her student Rishi Sethi has prospered as a creative, educational and humanitarian award-winning program thanks to all of you.

 

Please join us at our next tournament at Barbara Rose Elementary School on Dec 10th 2011 and continue to sharpen your skills by doing our chess puzzles available at the web site www.shulmanchess.com

 

Rich Ni and Dr Kiran Frey

Celebrating Service of our students

Nov 102011
 

Joseph Jazwinski, 6th grader at Cary Junior High, has been a part of Yury Shulman’s after school chess program for several years in Cary Dist. 26.  Due to budget cut complications in the school district, Chess Without Borders was not able to have a club at the Junior High this year, though they were able to continue at the elementary school.  Joseph was saddened by the news of no chess club, but came up with a clever solution on his own.  He asked Yury if he could volunteer his time at the elementary school to assist with the students.

After school on Tuesday afternoon, Joseph walks from Cary Junior High to Deer Path Elementary and begins by helping Yury set things up as the await the arrival of students. His favorite parts of helping Yury have been watching the students play their games, setting up chess diagrams and answering student questions (though most of the time he lets Yury do most of the talking!).

Volunteering with Yury has given Joseph a new respect for the game of chess – a respect from the teaching perspective


		

	





	

	



	

		
Your Presence at the Tournament Counts!

		

			

		

		
Nov 072011

	

	 	

		


Thank you for coming to our tournament!  All food sale proceeds are given to charity.  Every student and adult helper at our tournament is a volunteer for the program. Through participation in tournaments, your children build chess skills and, by purchasing food at the tournament, you help us raise funds for charities both locally and globally.


The volunteers at the Grove Avenue Chess Tournament have selected to raise funds for Smiletrain and for repaying studio time used for producing Meher’s video. Chess student Toby, who was born with a cleft lip and successfully operated upon, will be volunteering with guitarist Ron Swanson. Both will be on hand to answer any questions about the program you support by purchasing a meal on Saturday. We honor the involvement and diversity of other youth volunteers and are delighted to learn valuable skills from each other.


The mission of the Chess Without Borders program is to combine education with service and philanthropy. This award winning chess program was started at Grove Avenue School by Principal Cindy Kalageropolous and her student, Rishi Sethi. Since its inception in 1999, the program has had an impact in educating hundreds of students, donating almost $67,000 to local and international charities and promoting volunteerism among young students. This includes $26,000 donated so far for plastic surgery and education for Meher (For more information visit

www.shulmanchess.com/History <http://www.shulmanchess.com/History> of Chess)


We are proud of our volunteer leaders for this tournament, Isabella Anzelde and Jane Bradley, pictured below. We would like to welcome our special guest volunteer from India, Sudha Dang, who is joining us and serving food.




Thank you for opening so many possibilities for education, service and philanthropy for our students. We welcome any food donations that you can bring to the tournament  that can be sold adding to the total donations made to the charity.


Rich Ni


(Director of Youth Volunteers for Chess Without Borders) and


Dr Kiran Frey

		

	





	

	



	

		
Chess camp students help raise funds for education at Project Why

		

			

		

		
Nov 032011

	

	 	

		


GM Shulman and his students have continued the tradition of service and philanthropy by donating a portion of the proceeds from chess camps held over the summer . Students who attend the camps have made it possible to help raise $200 for educational programs at Project Why schools. Project Why is an NGO serving the community in the Govindpuri slums of Delhi, India to provide education and other services. Chess Without Borders has sent volunteers and has established a long standing relationship with them to help wherever and whenever possible. GM Shulman and the chess community, in addition, has raised almost $26,000 for medical services for Meher who was a burn victim from Govindpuri. Meher has had several plastic surgeries for her face and hands which have allowed her to excel in school. Although Meher remains disfigured she is able to excel in school and the chess community is supporting her education.


These acts of kindness are generated through chess students engaging in learning and volunteering therefore directly having an impact on people and communities around the world.


Below is a picture of students from Quest Academy Summer Chess Camps who are engaged in learning and making an impact at an early age by helping others not as fortunate as them.


 


Rich Ni and Kiran Frey







		

	





	

	



	

		
Volunteer Virginia Golembiewski raises funds for Project Why

		

			

		

		
Oct 272011

	

	 	

		


Long time volunteer Virginia Golembiewski who was one of the early supporters of the Barrington Chess Program continues to help rally co-workers at Alexian Brothers Medical Center  to raise funds for a computer at the Project Why educational center in the Govindpuri slums of Delhi, India. Virginia and her friends from Alexian purchased shawls and the money raised from sales of the shawls was donated towards a computer at the school run by Project Why for children living in the Govindpuri slums of Delhi.


The generosity and effort of volunteers like them makes it possible to improve the lives of many children living in poverty in the Govindpuri slums of Delhi. Please visit


projectwhy.org/ for more information about the services being provided by this organization.


Project Why is a New Delhi (India) based non-profit organisation engaged in education support and life skill enhancement of slum children and their families.


Below is a picture of some of the friends from Alexian who have helped to raise funds by purchasing shawls.


 



		

	





	

	



	

		
Global Volunteers Samrath Luthra and Neha Kirpal join Chess Without Borders to raise funds for computers at Project Why.

		

			

		

		
Oct 192011

	

	 	

		


Neha Kirpal and Samrath Luthra are young artists from India who will use their talents to raise money for educational programs for Project Why. Project Why is an NGO providing services for children and families living in the slums of Delhi, India. Chess Without Borders has worked with Project Why in the past supplying chess supplies and volunteers who have taught children in the schools.  Hoping to continue providing some support Samrath Luthra and Neha Kirpal will host a Photography Exhibit in Delhi with the purpose of raising funds for donating computers for the school.


Samrath Luthra is a 16 year old student who has dabbled in Photography. He has a unique collection of Photographs depicting details of the lives of “Rickshaw walas” in Delhi.  This is an unusual system of transportation used in India which relies on a man pedaling his rickshaw with the passengers sitting at the back. It is grueling work but Samrath has tried to capture the many moods of  the people employed in this difficult trade.


Neha Kirpal is a 27 year old creative writer who has volunteered to edit the Photographs. She is currently working at McKinsey and Company in Delhi.




Picture of a Rickshaw and his driver known as a Rickshaw Wala in Urdu.

		

	





	

	



	

		
News From St Matthews Chess Club

		

			

		

		
Oct 092011

	

	 	

		


















































ST. MATTHEW CHESS CLUB NEWS!


    Our free summer Chess Club classes did very well.  Henry and I enjoy spreading the knowledge of this wonderful game to our friends and neighbors.  It is marvelous to see the light bulbs go off in the minds of the children, and even mothers, who we have  taught, as they realize what this game is all about!  It is seeing an opportunity, taking advantage of it, planning the future, learning from mistakes, achieving success!  These are lessons that can be used in everyone’s daily lives!


     The 4th Annual tournament at St. Matthew was held on Sept 10, 2011!  We would like to thank all those who devoted their time and energy into helping us, as the many hands made it go so smoothly and quickly.  Our Boy Scouts did a wonderful job running the concession stand serving over 150 people.  They earned over $200 for their projects.  They also earned some of the requirements necessary for the new Cub Scout chess belt loops, pins and the new Boy Scout chess merit badge which was just initiated on Sept 7, at the web site www.scouting.org!


    A total of $712 was donated toward the elevator fund.  We would like to thank the donors, who are GM Yury Shulman, M.J. Miller Jewelers of Barrington, Bookseller Polina Korenman, our local businesses in Lake Zurich, Eggshells, Oberweiss Dairy, Rosati’s Pizza, Costco, and also Michael’s Chicago Style Hot dogs, in Buffalo Grove.


   We are into our fall session of classes right now, and you can still join!  The classes run $12 each, with the last fall session class being held on November 17. ”Chess lessons by a Grandmaster” book, written by GM Shulman, is available for $23 and also Chess without Borders tee shirts for $12.  The classes are run from 5:30 to 6:30 on Thursday, in Luther Hall, stop by and see us in action! 


   Please spread the word to any Cub or Boy Scouts you may know in other schools! 


    We are very grateful to have the opportunity to be able to help spread this wonderful game in our church and community and help introduce people to our church facility.

















































		

	





	

	



	

		
Educator donates money for Project Meher

		

			

		

		
Oct 012011

	

	 	

		


Ms Karen Armstrong donated $100 for Chess Without Borders/ Meher project being conducted by the chess community. She has been a long time supporter of the chess program ever since it started at Grove Avenue School in 1999. That year she donated an outdoor chess table in honor of her late husband who was a chess player and philanthropist.


Ms Armstrong is a graduate of Harvard University and she has been instrumental in helping Rishi launch several humanitarian service projects over the years. Ms Armstrong has provided financial and intellectual resources for many projects including the current project for Meher.


Chess Without Borders is grateful for her investment of time, energy and interest in making this a unique program combining learning, service and philanthropy.

		

	





	

	



	

		
Chess Without Borders group attends the Emmy Nomination Party

		

			

		

		
Sep 292011

	

	 	

		


On September 27th a group representing Chess Without Borders attended the Emmy Nomination Party at the Rockit Bar and Grill in Chicago. Although  the documentary did not make the final nomination Channel 7 ABC news Val Warner took time to welcome jack, Jane and Grandpa to the event.


Jack, Jane and GrandPa Paul Petraitis with Channel 7 ABC Talk Show Host Val Warner!!


See picture attached!  Jack and Jane got autographs as well!


She was the one that hosted the event on Tuesday as well.







 

		

	





	

	



	

		
Magnificent Chess Photographs by our Talented Volunteer Joseph Ridgway

		

			

		

		
Sep 262011

	

	 	

		


 We are honored and grateful for the spirit of service demonstrated by our very own talented Photographer Joseph Ridgway who has captured the rich emotional states of mind experienced when players are competing in a chess tournament. These pictures were taken at the St Matthew’s Chess Tournament held at the St Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods on September 10th 2011. The entire sale from the food was donated to the cub scouts program and 50% of the money raised from the tournament was donated to the elevator funds for the handicapped visiting the church.


Chess Without Borders continues to inspire and grow “our army of volunteers”. Joseph Ridgway is an accountant and the grandson of Joan and Henry Eickelbergs who have made many things possible through their leadership role at the St Matthew’s Chess Club. It was their dedication to their students that produced National Champions at the National Championships held in Chicago a few years ago. Henry has been an editor for the textbook “Chess! Lessons From a Grandmaster”and Joan has raised funds and poured a great deal of her creative energy into many aspects of the Chess Without Borders programs.






 Above is a picture of Rishi Sethi left and Joseph Ridgway on the right. His pictures are available at


https://picasaweb.google.com/joseph.ridgway.ii/ChessTournament2011_0910?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCL-bg7bV-sK8Fw&feat=directlink

		

	





	

	

		 Older Entries
		 Newer Entries
	

      

    


	


	

		

			

				© 2024 Shulman Chess
				
				Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha