Chess has a unique ability to rivet children’s attention and simultaneously teach important life skills. Forty years of research has shown that chess improves test scores, academic performance, concentration, decision-making, creativity, problem solving, and social skills. There are currently just under 400,000 students enrolled in the Chicago Public Schools. And, of these students, 86% are classi
fied as being “economically disadvantaged.” Through its actions, CCF plans to introduce thousands of these economically disadvantaged students to chess by building new programs and strengthening existing clubs. The CCF also plans to build Chicago’s competitive strength by recruiting and training new chess coaches and setting up tiered instruction so that the students can be taught at increasing levels of difficulty. The CCF Board of Directors includes successful chess coaches, program directors, parents, administrators and members of the financial community. The programming efforts of CCF, since accepting it's mission statement, includes two free chess summer camps and publication of a youth coaches' handbook. CCF is currently co-sponsoring six free scholastic chess tournaments with the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago (YCFC). CCF is launching a pilot program to introduce sustainable chess programming at a few Chicago-area schools. CCF will be publishing a chess curriculum soon as a companion piece to the coaches' handbook.
