Youth Social Entrepreneurs Honored for their Work

The Margo Clark Innovation Program received a nomination for an award from Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Competition. The award is for companies that are innovative and " which honor products, concepts, companies, policies, and designs that are pursuing innovation for good."

At the non profit, Chess Without Borders, volunteers were stunned after the loss of one of their adult mentors, Margo Clark. Out of this tragedy the Margo Clark Innovation Program was born in order to represent her values such as generosity, kindness, curiosity, sincerity, tolerance and brilliance. Students formed social entrepreneurial companies that address local and global problems. Six months later many of their work through individual or teams are impacting areas such as education, environment, the arts and sciences.

The essence of their work is totally dependent on their initiative and creativity. It can be to raise funds through their talents or interests or be devoted to their art forms. Students inspire and mentor each other.

The team of volunteers at Chess Without Borders has raised over $160,000 for local and global charities and youth volunteers have recognized the power and impact of their work. Two of their longest standing charities are thriving. For the 5th year they are sponsoring a Christmas lunch in Chicago for 300 x prisoners and their families. Almost 10 years ago Chess Without Borders raised funds for plastic surgery for a severely burned girl living in the slums of Delhi, India and started a computer center in this slum. In addition other short term projects have raised funds for flood and hurricane victims in Illinois and distributed textbooks to underprivileged schools locally and worldwide.

To learn about details of the companies started by students visit: http://shulmanchess.com/award-...

For a video of some of the work accomplished visit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Nominated students are: Ethan Gagliano, Jack Bongiorno, Siddharth and Abhijit Gehlaut, Sanjaya and Sahitya Maheshwaram, Jack and Jane Bradley, Prathik Kandimalla, Arnav Batta, Dunya Diyadawagamage, Vishal Ahuja, Eleanore van Marjwik Kooy, Steven Zhu, Sophia Can, Pranav and Prashanth Ramachandra, Joelle and Brennan Moy, Sienna and Amaya Sulkin, Divine Mugerwa and Danila Sesenyomo and Toby Schwartz.

Rishi Sethi, CEO of Method Mill in New York nominated the students for their work.

Adult volunteers are Zein Bertacchi, GM Shulman, Dr Kiran Frey, Maggie Gruber Black.