Learning life Skills Through Social Ventures

Youth at Chess Without Borders, a non profit chess program have built impressive credentials through fulfilling the mission of its program. They have excelled at learning chess as evidenced by their academic achievements. The most recent achievement being runners up at the Illinois State Chess Championship last month out of 120 teams competing at state. By donating over $200,000 to local and global charities since its inception Chess Without Borders has impacted its community and nurtured youth leadership. Over hundred youth have won awards for their service and commitment to the world around them. Achievements of CWB

Children have served hundreds of hours of service to achieve these goals. By directly being involved in selecting a charity to support through knowledge of world events, collaborating with teams, marketing and addressing the technological needs to promote events youth develop hands on experience as leaders. One such youth leader is 16 year old, Anthony Zhu, a high school student in Barrington. Over the next year he will volunteer as a role model and Marketing Director for Chess Without Borders. Anthony is already involved with bringing access to the textbook, "Raising Social Entrepreneurs". This book describes how a movement of youth social entrepreneurship was born and "succeeded beyond my wildest dream" according to the founder of the program Rishi Sethi.

This Saturday Anthony will host and market a fundraising event for his schools chess team that will be headed to the National High School Championships in Memphis. Barrington High School is paying some of the costs for the team but the rest of the expenses will be born by the team. Youth through their service inspire others to help. Renowned Artist Mort Luby has generously offered to host a fundraiser at his home for a private viewing of his work done over a lifetime.

The event will be held on Saturday March 12th from 3 to 5 pm. There is a $20 admission fee with all the proceeds going towards the expenses for the chess team. The event will also feature home made snacks by gourmet cook and mentor, Zein Bertacchi and a conversation with the artist, Mort Luby.

Through creative problem solving to accomplish goals and engagement with a diverse group of youth and adults children understand what it means to get the job done. Youth develop empathy, cooperation, ambition, gratitude and resilience as they often struggle to meet expectations. " I feel more ambitious for others than myself", said 15 year old Toby Schwartz, another outstanding youth social entrepreneur.

A very special thanks to the hundreds of adult mentors who have nurtured these youth to deliver an impact beyond their potential to help the large numbers of charities that have benefitted from these endeavors.