Barrington Youth Volunteer's Winning Results

On Feb 28th 2015 fifteen youth volunteers set out to lead a group of over 250 people gathered at a chess tournament. GM Yury Shulman through Chess Without Borders ran the tournament that donated 100% of its proceeds to charity. The tournament was dedicated to Dr Cindy Kalogeropoulos, Principal of Grove Avenue School, who started this unique chess program with her student Rishi Sethi when he was a 4th grader at Grove in 1999. The chess program has flourished over the years. Donating over $116,000 to local and global charities, educating thousands of students in chess and engaging hundreds of youth as volunteers.

Video of how the program began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt3ggGr7pqQ

For the last 7 years, in addition to supporting local charities, the program has also supported 2 long-standing charities. The first was to provide medical treatment and education for a little girl from the slums of Delhi, India and the second was to establish a computer center in this same slum. The impact of these charities has been profound on both the givers and receivers. This little girl has turned out to be an outstanding student and the computer center is bringing computer literacy to over 300 students using the computers. The youth volunteers here have won many awards and honors for their humanitarian work. On the basis of their work each year as the volunteer’s turn 16 years of age they are invited to attend the prestigious UN Youth Assembly.

Video of the 2 charities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmyDix4rvT0

The service learning that emerged from these ventures has produced dedicated social entrepreneurs who, even after they win the Presidential Service Award continue to create and innovate other projects. For instance, Rishi Sethi, the 4th grader from Grove Avenue School is the CEO of Method Mill, a Data Analysis Company in New York. Rishi says, “ the struggle and hard work of starting the chess program in Barrington prepared me in so many ways to start something on my own“.

These volunteers raised $6886.75 at the tournament on Feb 28th 2015.

Watch video of the impact of giving on both the givers and receivers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L8n3zTcY_o

The youth who volunteered at the tournament are:

Ethan Gagliano

Sahitya and Sanjaya Maheshwaram

Jack and Jane Bradley

Lyle and Zach Green

Vishal and Varun Ahuja

Prathik Kandimalla

Toby Schwartz

Eleanore Marwijk van Kooy

Millen and Jeevan Srivastava

Robert Said

Pranav and Prashant Ramachandra

Adult Supervisors were Maggie Gruber and Dr Kiran Frey

Youth volunteers also develop vital skills such as pubic speaking, problem solving, confidence, communication and a global perspective as they search for methods to engage a community. Their next social venture will be to raise funds for the tornado victims of Southern Illinois on May 15th 2015 at Salem Church. They will host an “Evening in Jordan” . They will present a Jordanian born Historian Rula Said who will speak about Jordan and award winning cook and food philanthropist Zein Bertacchi and her sister Rima Said who will provide a Jordanian meal. Tickets are 410 for children and $20 for adults.

For information visit salemchurchbarrington.com