The Gift of Chess

Pawns can truly become Kings & Queens.

We need your help, we have secured American visas for 5 children from across our Chess in the Slums outreach programs including Ferdinand Maumo who was born with cerebral palsy and was identified as a chess protégé from Makoko the largest floating slum in the world to Mary who lives in an IDP camp in Norther Nigeria, and who's family was displaced by Boko Haram. This is a golden opportunity for the children to showcase their talent on a global stage and show the world what they're truly made of.

All donations will go directly towards booking flights, accommodation and meals during their two week stay from the prestigious Chess and Community conference in Athens, Georgia, to the heart of Times Square New York where they'll be competing against NYC top chess talent, to the 2nd Annual United Nations Games.

These kids have prepared all their lives for this moment, it's our turn to stand up for them. Kindly donate to help us bring their dreams to fruition and show them it is indeed possible to do great things from a small place.

Yours Truly,

Tunde Onakoya

With a heart so full it aches, our kids from Nigeria arrived today with in America, where they’ll compete in Athens Georgia, New York City and The United Nations Games.

Typing these words fill my eyes with tears all over again because I know their stories.

Ferdinand- Differently abled child, living with cerebral palsy, used to be bullied by other children in his community , born to poor fisherman in the Largest floating slum in the world. But when he plays chess, the world standstill.

Mary- her family was almost killed by Boko Haram terrorists. Forgotten in an IDP camp in Northern Nigeria where dreams go to die. But hers didn’t.

Mabel-radiant and full of promise. Met her 7 years ago in the slums of Ikorodu with a sparkle in her eyes but no opportunity to go to school. Today a fierce chess queen with dreams to be a doctor.

Jamiu—Abandoned by father as a child, watched his mum die in my hands, Homeless. Yet undefeated and already one of the best chess players in the country for his age category.

They have braved all odds to be here today to represent children like them who have been told they were invincible.

To the kids: play with heart, walk with pride. Know that the dreams of many others fly with you today, not as a burden but as light.

You are becoming the kind of story the world cannot ignore.

We still need all the help and support we can get, so if you’re in Georgia, NYC or Boston, come support the kids as they show the world what they’re truly made of.

The Gift of Chess is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization transforming lives through our universal language of chess.

https://www.thegiftofchess.org/

The Gift of Chess is a 501(c)(3) recognized charity that started in December 2020. During the height of the pandemic, we distributed 10,000 chess sets to students across New York City as a tool to help them reconnect physically during a difficult time of isolation.

Since then, our mission has spread into a global initiative with the goal of donating 1 million chess sets by 2030.

Our chess sets reach schools, orphanages, prisons and community centers as a low-cost tool to spark incredible opportunity.

To date we have secured over 125,000 chess sets for distribution reaching 35 countries across the world.

Countries Reached

The Gift of Chess Website

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100 Percent of the proceeds will be used to support our chess set distribution globally including the purchase of chess sets, costs for transporting the chess sets, and stipends to our global ambassadors to help support their efforts.

The Gift of Chess.

308 West 46th Street, New York, NY

The Gift of Chess is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization transforming lives through the universal language of chess.

Leveraging chess as a low-cost high-impact catalyst for change, we distribute chess sets globally, supporting our key initiatives of educational, prison, and refugee outreach.

Our goal is to distribute 1,000,000 chess sets by 2030

Our Stories of Impact

(Refugee Camps)

(Rikers Island)

(Education)

100 percent of the money raised goes towards the purchase of chess sets at approximately $4 per chess set!

We need your HELP...

Over the past several years under the leadership of Ronald, The Gift of Chess has distributed several thousand chess sets across Uganda, building communities and sparking opportunities. These sets have reached schools, orphanages, children's homes, refugee communities, street kids, prisons, and centers alike.

In March of 2023, Tunde Onakoya visited Ronald and had the opportunity to visit The Gift of Chess outreach programs across Kampala. On this visit he met Elijah and Benjamin. These stories show incredible transformation and are a testament to the power of chess to spark incredible opportunity.

We need your support in helping Ronald continue his important work across Uganda, as he and his team of volunteers continue to use chess to nurture talent, spark opportunity and build community.

Success stories such as Elijah and Benjamin show us that it truly is possible to do great things from a small place.

Every dollar donated to this fundraiser will directly benefit The Gift of Chess outreach in Uganda.

A Message from Ronald:

Potential means nothing if not realized and supported. We are daring to do something through chess and we invite you to join us.

About The Gift of Chess:

You can make a difference by donating today to The Gift of Chess.

The Gift of Chess is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization transforming lives through our universal language of chess.

Leveraging chess as a low-cost high-impact catalyst for change, we distribute chess sets globally, supporting our key initiatives of educational, prison, and refugee outreach.

https://www.thegiftofchess.org/

My name is Rasha, and I am starting this campaign to help my 16 year old daughter Eman, reach her chess goals. She is the number one player on the Palestinian chess team, the Arab champion under 14 and under 16, holder of the WFM Olympic title and currently ranked 1890 by the International Chess Federation. Eman has been through so much and I hope from my heart that you can help support her financially so that she can focus her efforts on achieving her dreams.

From a very young age Eman discovered her passion for playing chess, and she has not calmed down. She never fails to work diligently in developing herself and trying to achieve her dream of becoming one of the best female players in the world. This dream gives her all the strength to continue, despite the many obstacles she faces. Eman was born in Jordan, but her father is a Palestinian refugee, so she does not have any national number, only the temporary Jordanian passport.

As the child of a Palestinian refugee Eman faces many financial difficulties in achieving her potential. Everything in Jordan is not allowed for a refugee, like secondary education and government universities. Eman received a partial scholarship to a private school through chess, but she is still required to pay the rest of the fees and we cannot provide for all the school fees which dominate her thinking, as more than once she was denied a bus ride to school because we could not pay the bill. It breaks my heart.

As for chess, Eman is not allowed to play all chess tournaments in Jordan because she is Palestinian, so she must play tournaments abroad to play stronger players and increase her skill. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to travel to these tournaments outside of Jordan. Eman also needs a computer to study for school and practice chess and we cannot afford to buy one.

Finally, Eman is invited to play at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September and to prepare and play her best she needs to train with a coach, which we also cannot afford. As a mother I want to do everything I can to help her, to support her and to remove all obstacles in front of her so she can achieve her chess dreams. She so works hard and diligently. She always tells me when I ask her to rest, “Mama, there is no time to play. I want to achieve my dream and change reality.” Thank you for supporting my daughter.

Here is a letter from Eman:

My name is Eman. I am the Palestinian chess champion and the Arab champion twice, under 14 and under 16, without any loss. I hold the WCM title and the WFM title twice, the last of which was the 2022 Chennai Olympics. I live in Jordan with my brother, my father, and my mother, who endured a lot for me. I do not have any nationality because my father is a refugee from Gaza. He does not have a national number, but only a temporary Jordanian passport, so I cannot have everything like others in terms of education and chess, and I suffer a lot due to this. My mother is always by my side, but the war has affected everything. We lost many of our family and friends in Gaza. Many times I almost lost my faith in myself and my dreams, but my passion for the game and my mother’s support is what drives me to continue. I want to represent my country well and show the world what Palestinian girls are capable of.

I will never give up. I love chess very much, and I hope that I have the conditions to continue. Thank you.

We hope to bring the IS 318 chess team to NATIONALS in Atlanta next month, but we can’t do it without your help!

With your support, the team will have the opportunity to put all of their training and hard work to use against the best teams from across the state and nation.

ALL DONATIONS RECEIVED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL WILL BE MATCHED BY A GENEROUS DONOR!

IS 318 in Brooklyn is a diverse Title 1 middle school, and the school chess team is unparalleled on every metric. The team has won countless championships, was the subject of an award-winning documentary, and is the only middle school ever to win the High School Nationals. The IS 318 chess program is built upon the belief that students who commit to working hard to improve their chess skills will see results on and off the chessboard. Chess teaches persistence, commitment, planning, and logical thinking.

Throughout the year, funding is needed to provide coaching support for local tournaments, and coaching and travel expenses for state and national tournaments. These tournaments are out of reach without outside funding. Our goal is $25,000 - your help is so appreciated!

IS 318 is grateful to The Gift of Chess for acting as fiscal sponsor while we pursue 501(c)3 status

All proceeds will go to support Soga Chess. They are on the ground in the DRC and need our help, expanding access to chess for these children.

You can make a difference by donating today to The Gift of Chess.

The Gift of Chess is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization transforming lives through our universal language of chess.

Leveraging chess as a low-cost high-impact catalyst for change, we distribute chess sets globally, supporting our key initiatives of educational, prison, and refugee outreach.

https://www.thegiftofchess.org/

Under the leadership of Tony Ballard, The Gift of Chess looks to expand access to chess sets, chess programs and chess educational materials for those incarcerated across the USA and beyond.

It may be a year, maybe 5, 10 or even 20 but the reality is that a majority of those currently incarnated will be back in our communities. Let’s give them the tools to be successful not only on the inside but on the outside. It makes sense for all of us.

Currently, The Gift of Chess reaches over 250 jails and prisons across the United States.

Every dollar donated will go directly toward supporting our outreach to those who are incarcerated.

$5 will allow us to provide a chess set to individuals across prisons & jails across the USA.

A note from Tony....

Thank you for your support and financial contribution to effect change and Rehabilitation for those in prisons throughout the nation. Your partnership has made you a part of a noble humanitarian effort to promote chess in prisons as a cognitive rehabilitation tool.

A story from our most recent project….

Traveling to Lansing correctional facility was a journey that I had looked forward to. The closer that I got to the facility I wondered about the type of anxiety I would have once I entered the prison. What I noticed after this visit was why I had immersed myself inside of chess so deeply. It was to escape the harsh realities of prison life. As I entered LCF I felt the tension, pain, and stressors of the environment. The same stressors I had felt during my stay there but overcome through my deep immersion into chess. Chess made my mind go into a different place. I was no longer in prison when I played chess, and the circumstances that went on around me did not matter for those hours, most often several hours, that I was “away” deep inside my thoughts in the world of chess. This was my place of solace. I was able to somewhat “escape”. As a result, I developed skills that I see now will benefit me for the rest of my life. It is our goal and mission to help others incarcerated nationwide, starting first here in my home state of Kansas, to learn, develop and cultivate their thinking skills and transform themselves into productive members of society, and model inmates. I am offering them not only a tool but a “way out” mentally and physically. They can find solace in the trenches of chess with one another. They can find skills that would rehabilitate their thinking and mental health. Thus, providing a way out physically that would increase their chances of never returning.

The pictures that were taken by Pulitzer Prize winner Photojournalist John Moore, and up and coming videographer Jamal Dozier, captured these moments that conveyed the power and importance of chess in prisons. These inmates can learn to respect one another and be patient with each other from playing chess. While there, I noticed the prison dynamics. This is the different rival gangs and groups that are normally antisocial towards one another. Yet, for this moment chess brought them all together with a sense of relief, peace, and camaraderie. All conflicts went out the window during the time that we were there. There were no threats or having to look over their shoulders. They were congratulating one another, high-five-ing and

shaking hands.

The Gift of Chess was provided this platform through our partnership with the Kansas

Department of Corrections, steered under Secretary of corrections Jeff Zmuda, and organized by Statewide Gift of Chess coordinator, Captain Kevin Oneth. The Departments motto is to Invest in Individuals and provide opportunities to acquire new experiences and skills to support personal and professional advancement and future success. As well as creating environments for change, well-being, and designing systems that encourage positive behaviors, healthy choices, and self-improvement. We were delighted to see the staff genuinely pleased for the residents and

the positive vibes that permeated the gym. These men were super respectful of the guest that entered the facility, they were hyper- appreciative of the opportunity, and were thoroughly engaged. This was a win-win for all involved. Our partnership with KDOC is the epitome of the motto “Engage and Strengthen Partnerships and to Expand partnerships with individuals and organizations within our communities to support our mission.” We would like the nation to know that this is the new most progressive ideal to change life and its harsh realities for prisoners and their staff alike. Many prisons are experiencing staff shortages, what better way than to occupy residents’ minds through providing them chess and engaging their thoughts and influencing their behaviors through this thought-provoking instrument. Keeping residents busy with playing chess and competing in a non-contact sport is necessary and a brilliant idea to curb prison violence, gang activity and drug usage.

Creating an atmosphere that fosters intelligence and celebrates good decision making, has the great potential

to influence the rest of the population; your strongest leaders in these environments will begin to encourage positive/smart behavior and shunning behaviors that are disruptive and harmful for expansion of other opportunities. This in turn protects the staff who come into these facilities each day to do their job, expecting to return home to their families. Chess is an activity that demands thinking and causes each environment where it is played to become quiet and academically sound. Thus, the energy level is lowered and the potential for outburst is highly unlikely. As mentioned earlier it is also a non-contact, highly competitive sport. Many a times I have witnessed fights over basketball or any other contact sport in prisons many times.

Read About Tony & Our Prison Outreach

Help us spread The Gift of Chess across Uganda. Over the past several years, under the leadership of Ronald, The Gift of Chess has built an incredible community of chess outreach across Uganda.

Lives are being impacted and stories such as those of Benjamin and Elijah remind us of the transformative power of a simple chess set.

We need your support to not only provide the chess sets, but build meaningful communities of impact where we have distributed chess sets.

All proceeds will directly benefit The Gift of Chess outreach across Uganda.

In Honor of Emory Tate, A True Chess Legend.

The Gift of Chess is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization transforming lives through our universal language of chess. We are addressing the lack of chess sets globally by committing to distribute 1,000,000 chess sets globally by 2030.

We distribute chess sets globally, leveraging chess as a low-cost high-impact opportunity catalyst, helping release human potential. Our key initiatives include education, prison, and refugee outreach.

To date, we have produced over 75,000 chess sets for global distribution. Our goal is to distribute 1,000,000 chess sets globally by 2030.

To date, we have donated 1,000 plus chess sets to Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, USA, Seychelles, South Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.

Each partner country has an assigned ambassador who is leading our micro distribution efforts (5 chess set gifts) across schools, orphanages, prisons, refugee camps, community centers and chess clubs. We have also gifted 100 chess sets to each country's recognized federation.

We currently have 50,000 chess sets in Africa that are being warehoused in Ghana and Kenya. We hope to donate 1,000 chess sets to each African country within the next 6 months.

Even though the 50,000 chess sets have been paid for, each 1,000 chess set distribution to a new country costs approximately 5,000 which includes the cost of shipping, customs, storage and a 1,000 budget for countrywide distribution.

We have currently reached Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, USA, Seychelles, Somalia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

With your help, we can reach the rest of Africa.

Chess is an incredible tool for social impact, empowerment and opportunity, unfortunately, there is a lack of chess sets globally. Help us expand the incredible impact of chess to more countries, and more communities and impact more lives.

5,000 - One Country

10,000 - Two Countries

15,000 - Three Countries

20,000 - Four Countries

25,000 - Five Countries

100,000 - 20 Countries

250,000 - All of Africa

Our next project hopes to reach all of the Americas (41 Countries)

We hope to distribute 1,000,000 chess sets globally by 2030.

Become a Builder and support The Gift of Chess on a monthly basis

Become a Builder

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Why Chess...

New York City has received over 40,000 migrant refugees from Latin America in the last year. Many of these are children.

Before even stepping foot in NYC, these families went through unbelievably terrible months or years, crossing jungles on foot, risking being attacked by bandits who rob, rape and kill travelers, and sleeping on the streets. Some had to make their way across multiple countries to reach the border. Many lost at least one family member on the way. And when asked, the parents have said that they did all of this for the children, to give them a future that would be unattainable in the collapsing nations they fled, and that incredibly, they would do it all again because their kids are everything to them. But schools were caught off-guard and the city was caught unprepared, and many institutions have had to scramble to respond. And although shelters were found, and kids were enrolled in school, after-school meals and safe activities were not available.

The Gift of Chess and some Spanish speaking Stuyvesant High School students who founded unidospodemosmas.com recognized this need and stepped in. Since January 9, 2023, we have opened an after-school program in a large church room which is walking distance from many of the shelters. Spanish-speaking staff, an artist from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and Spanish-speaking high school volunteers have been dedicating their afternoons teaching chess and math to the kids. The community has grown in just weeks with kids and their parents becoming "regulars"; Even better, some of the kids have taken to chess so well that a few weekends ago, two kids won first place in a weekend chess tournament!

In just weeks, this chess program and these New Yorkers are tangibly offering the kids and their families safety away from the streets and a bridge to America. Many people have opinions about these migrants, good and bad and in between, but the reality is that these children are here now and if New Yorkers don’t step up to help them at this crucial time, these kids are vulnerable to gangs, crime, drugs, and abuse.

Sadly, the program received a one-time donation and is in desperate need of support. Rent in midtown is expensive (!) even after being given a deal, our chess coach needs to be paid, and a couple of pizzas a day add up. Please help us keep going for another 3 months!

We ask that you take a minute to watch a video of our program and the amazing work the volunteers are doing. This unique program will potentially provide a blueprint to other US cities and states on how to respond to our migrant crisis in a way that helps the children in the short run and all of America in the long run.

https://unidospodemosmas.com/en/gallery/