Heights of Creativity

Leadership, Generosity and
Entrepreneurship

Zein Bertacchi has had a unique influence on the culture of youth
philanthropy in Barrington since 1999. She is a magnet for youth with her
personality and energy. As a mentor she has helped hundreds of youth
social entrepreneurs at Chess Without Borders raise over $200,000
towards local and global charities. Zein is lovingly called, “the Falafel
lady” by the children at chess events because she donates her
homemade ingredients and culinary talents so that youth can raise “as
much money as possible” said 14 year old Toby Schwartz for their
featured charity. She leads by example and her unusual methods of
philanthropy inspire youth to have fun and gain knowledge of the world
as they serve. “After serving various charities we are global citizens”, said
12 year old Prashanth Ramachandra who raised $700 with Zein towards
a roof for a school for orphans from the civil war in Sri Lanka.

Zein’s journey began inadvertently in 1999 when the founder of the
Barrington chess program,11 year old Rishi Sethi asked her to help him
raise funds for the local food pantry. Over 100 chess players and their
parents were coming to the Barrington high school for a special
Grandmaster event. Rishi wanted them to feel comfortable and engaged
as they waited while the registered chess players challenged
Grandmaster Pavel Blatney from the Czech Republic. Zein volunteered to
add a homemade Italian meal for the visitors where all the proceeds
from the meal would go towards the food pantry. The event was a roaring
success and over $1000 was raised for the food bank in Barrington. Since
then Zein became a mentor to Rishi Sethi and subsequently to other
youth helping them at chess tournaments and chess events to raise

money through food sales. “Zein makes it exciting to raise funds and I
always look forward to our next event because of her”, said 13 year old
Ethan Gagliano.

Zein is a natural leader. She is gifted as a cook but other skills come
together to make her exceptional. She is generous with her time, skills
and infectious with her energy that makes it attractive for others to
collaborate with her. In 2015 as floods and tornadoes destroyed homes
in southern Illinois the children at Chess Without Borders decided to host
a dinner, “An Evening in Jordan” where Zein and another guest speaker
Rula Said did a presentation on Jordan. This was done in collaboration
with Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington. $2000 was raised for
rebuilding homes.

Evening in Jordan

Zein through her creativity advances the scope and depth of any
humanitarian ventures the children embark on. She has not only
sustained her efforts at mentoring but expanded them to include non
traditional educational events. She has hosted cooking lessons for
teenagers and organized projects with youth. Her brilliance is being able
to motivate and drive youth on ambitious fundraising projects.

Zein was awarded a Character Award from the Village of Barrington
in 2014 and a Best Cook Award in Amman, Jordan in 2012. She was also
featured as Cook of the Week in the Daily Herald in 2013.

There have been other dinner events with Zein as the star cook and student volunteers at Chess Without Borders won the prestigious Presidential Youth Volunteer Service Award for their work.

Presidential Youth Award Winners

Zein through her creativity advances the scope and depth of any
humanitarian ventures the children embark on. She has not only
sustained her efforts at mentoring but expanded them to include non
traditional educational events. She has hosted cooking lessons for
teenagers and organized projects with youth. Her brilliance is being able
to motivate and drive youth on ambitious fundraising projects.

Zein was awarded a Character Award from the Village of Barrington
in 2014 and a Best Cook Award in Amman, Jordan in 2012. She was also
featured as Cook of the Week in the Daily Herald in 2013.

She is a unique leader as she inspires youth who after working with
her for years go on to becoming lifelong humanitarians. She adds energy,
class and creativity to any venture and is deeply appreciated by the
hundreds of youth who have had the privilege to work with her over
these years. She has volunteered over 10,000 hours for the last 20 years
as a mentor for over 100 youth at Chess Without Borders. She is able to drive children to excel at service using social, cognitive and emotional levels.

Here is a short video of 3 year old twins enjoying her Falafels.

3 year olds enjoying Zeins falafels

Raising social entrepreneurs

District 220 has contributed generously towards supporting youth

social entrepreneurs firstly through creating the chess program and then
sustaining its humanitarian nature through mentors such as Zein
Bertacchi. Many of the chess tournaments and chess events were held at
the Barrington schools.

Here are more details of the achievements of youth thanks to
mentors like Zein :

https://shulmanchess.com/biography-of-chess-without-
borders/