Adopt-A-School

OHIO

MISSOURI

Warren and Wesley feel very blessed and fortunate to have support from their family and environment to play chess from a very young age. During their chess career, they have met and competed with many kids who could have done as well as they had if they had same amount of  resources. A few trips with Jericho High School Badminton Varsity Team to some resource-lacking schools prompted Warren to think about doing something for such communities.  

After a discussion with his parents and his brother, Warren began enacting his plan and thus, the “Adopt a School” initiative was born. Warren and Wesley will donate their earnings from their Future Masters classes to a few such underprivileged schools. The goal is to maintain the supply of chess boards/sets for various school districts in  such communities and to conduct  occasional free chess clinics for the students. 

CHESSanity has expanded its reach to other parts of the country, with the establishment of its first chapter, Ohio Chapter, and later Missouri Chapter, to support hundred of schools in the areas.   

​Since 2018, the following  school/school districts in NY/NJ have joined CHESSanity’s “Adopt a School” initiative (The schools highlighted in green are added in 2023.):

Amityville Union Free School District
Brentwood Union Free School District
Central Islip School District
Connetquot Central School District
Copiague Public Schools
Deer Park School District
Farmingdale School District
Glen Cove City School District
Greenport Union Free School District
Greenpoint Union Free School District
Hampton Bays School District 
Hicksville School District
Island Trees School District
Lawrence Uion Free School District
Long Beach Public Schools
Longwood Central School District
Middle Country Central School District
Mineola Union Free School District
North Babylon School District
​Riverhead Central School District
Sachem Central School District
Sewanhaka Central High School District
​South Country Central School District
Southold Union Free School District
Tuckahoe Common School District
Uniondale Union Free School District
Valley Stream Union Free School District 24
Ventnor City Public School (NJ)
West Babylon Union Free School District 
​West Hempstead Union Free School District 
​
In 2016 and 2017, the following  school districts joined CHESSanity’s “Adopt a School” initiative:
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​Wyandanch Union Free School District

Warren and Wesley meeting with the Wyandanch Board of Education  (9/14/16).

At the Wyandanch Board of Education meeting on September 14th, 2016, Warren and Wesley made a formal presentation to the board members of their charitable intentions, detailing  CHESSanity's mission and the benefits of playing chess.  CHESSanity's generous donation was well-received by the school and community residents;  as a result, the board is exploring the possibility to introduce chess across the school district.

Warren with 3 members of the Wyandanch Chess Club  at their first official chess tournament in Queens, NY (1/21/17).

On January 21st, 2017, CHESSanity sponsored a trip to Queens for any willing members of the Wyandanch Chess Club for an official chess tournament. At the tournament, Warren spent time between rounds giving tips and pointers  to the students, and even played a few exhibition games against them. Although only three of the 25 in the newly assembled chess club attended (we hope to receive more in future events!), overall, the event was a success; the students seemed to enjoy themselves there!

Roosevelt Union Free School District

Warren (left) and Wesley  conducting simultaneous exhibitions against the Roosevelt chess team (3/4/17).

On Saturday, March 4th, 2017, Warren and Wesley, representing CHESSanity, traveled to the Roosevelt elementary school to conduct informal training sessions for the students part of the Roosevelt school chess team.  There, they played a simultaneous exhibition  with willing trainees as well as participating in a  blindfolded game against  some of the top students.

Warren and Wesley with some of the Roosevelt chess students (left) and Wesley  and Warren with the winners of the blindfold chess game against Wesley. These students collaborated over the board while Wesley called out moves without sight of the position (right).

The Saturday training session was a tremendous success. It was great to see the Roosevelt kids so eager to play against two National Masters and so willing to try and improve their game. They were all smiles after the win against Wesley in his blindfold game; you never know what some confidence  can do for some kids!

Hempstead Union Free School District

Warren and Wesley all smiles with their Hempstead students (3/23/17)

Lesson Time! These Hempstead children were complete beginners before the lesson started and did not know how to move the pieces or set up the boards. Fortunately, interactive learning and  play got their minds working, and they're sure to come back in two weeks better than before (3/23/17)!

On Thursday, March 23rd, 2017, Warren and Wesley, representing CHESSanity, traveled to Jackson Main School of the Hempstead UFSD, teaching  chess to hand-picked  students from 3 different elementary schools. After an hour and a half of interactive learning and play, these 21 students have walked away with a newfound knowledge, and possibly, a passion. We are to come back every two weeks and give similar intensive training sessions. Many thanks to principal Mr. Richard Brown of the Jackson Main School for making this happen!

Note: 30 chess sets, books, and bags were donated: each kid got to take home one of each!

Half Hollow Hills School District

Warren meeting with the West Hollow Middle School's PTA (2/14/18)