In addition to supporting tournaments and programs at the Marshall Chess Club, the Foundation is also involved in supporting chess outside of our immediate community.
School Programs
As part of a growing community outreach effort, the Foundation has established school chess programs in Harlem and Bridgeport, CT. This includes instruction, training and competitive play under the guidance of skilled master coaches. The Foundation provides chess sets, clocks and demonstration boards. As the students become more proficient and comfortable with the idea of playing in tournaments, they will be encouraged to take part in events at the Marshall Chess Club with club membership dues and entrance fees paid by the Foundation. The earliest beneficiaries of this work included the youngest African-American players to achieve master-strength USCF ratings of over 2200 by the age of 12. Josh Colas, Justus Williams and James Black have all gone on to success in the chess world, with Josh about to attain an International Master title at the age of 24.
Harlem Academy Spotlight
“Neither our ultimate aspiration for kids out of HA to eventually grow to championship levels nor this terrific progress would be possible without you, so I just want to say once again how appreciative we all are of our partnership with the Marshall Chess Foundation.”
Vincent (Vinny) Dotoli – Head of School
Harlem Academy is an independent school that drives equity of opportunity for promising students, guiding them to thrive at the highest academic levels and one day make a mark on the world. No family is ever turned away because of financial reasons. Tuition for each student is based on a sliding scale, typically between 2% an 5% of gross income, and is determined after a family is accepted to Harlem Academy.
Among the last five classes of graduates, 99% of students have enrolled in selective schools. Over the past five years, 97% of Harlem Academy graduates enrolled in four-year colleges and universities.
One of the school’s key Signature Programs is Chess, made possible by donations from the Marshall Chess Foundation. Harlem Academy offers weekly instruction with a chess coach and time for independent play for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade. With chess woven into the curriculum, students quickly move from mastering the basic rules of the game to learning complex strategies. For students who maintain interest, an after-school chess club and team are open to all grades, with opportunities for weekend enrichment as well as local and state-wide tournament play.
Baxter Academy For Technology & Science
“Your investment in Majur and the Baxter Chess Program has taken off. Our students WON the championship yesterday! Majur’s classes continue to be full and your commitment has had a palpable impact on our school culture.”
Anna Klein-Christie Executive Director
Baxter is a public charter high school that is free and open to Maine students. As Maine’s only public charter high school dedicated to STEM, Baxter Academy has a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum promoting student ownership of learning through curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
Led by Baxter Chess Fellow and National Chess Master, Majur Juac teaches a regular chess class at Baxter Academy. Baxter Academy offers a unique chess program taught by US Chess Master Majur Jurac from South Sudan.
Marshall Chess Foundations helps Baxter fund this program and the children of asylum seekers from Angola via Brazil.
Chess Equipment to South Africa
George Butau has been working in Capetown South Africa to establish chess classes and tournaments for children living in poor areas of Capetown. He contacted the Marshall Chess Foundation asking for assistance for his programs. In early 2022, the Foundation purchased chess sets and boards and shipped the equipment to Capetown where it is being used by Mr. Butau’s young chess students.
Prison Program
The Foundation has created a strategic alliance with The Gift of Chess to provide chess sets, coaching and tournaments to individuals incarcerated on Rikers Island. This structured activity is a productive focus for both adults and adolescents. It has been shown to reduce tension in housing units and lower the level of physical conflict between inmates.
Chess Abroad
Through our relationship with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, one of the top Grandmasters in the world, we are discussing a collaboration with the French Chess Federation. This will include online competition between young players from our school program and French students. We plan to take students from Harlem and Bridgeport to Paris for a taste of chess and French culture. They will visit the Luxembourg Garden where dozens of players gather daily, rain or shine, to play blitz chess. Chess is an international sport and the Foundation is dedicated to providing new experiences for young students in the context of enjoying the sport of kings.