Three years ago today, on my birthday, the world first heard about Tanitoluwa Adewumi. A Thread
Tani, a Nigerian refugee who was living in a homeless shelter at the time, won the NY State Championship in an incredible story that was featured in the New York Times and quickly caught the attention of the world.
People across the globe celebrated Tani's story, and through an overwhelming outpouring of support, Tani's family was able to move out of the shelter and into a home.
Tani's success inspired me to think about how we can leverage the game of chess to transform the lives of more kids. How our incredible chess community here in NYC can work together to provide greater opportunities for others!
During the pandemic, we launched the Gift of Chess with the initial goal of distributing 10,000 chess sets and access to chess technology to public school students across NYC.
Last summer, we successfully delivered the 10,000 sets, in addition to receiving 501(c)(3) charitable status and assembling a board of directors focused on expanding the universal language of chess.
When Tani's story broke, Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in the Slums Africa based in Lagos, Nigeria, was compelled to message me. We connected over a shared passion for chess and a joint belief in the transformative power of the game.
Three years after Tunde first reached out to me, I am thrilled to announce that the Gift of Chess will be expanding to Lagos in partnership with Chess in the Slums.
This Saturday, Tyrone Davis III, a Bronx native, former ICN student, and founding board member of The Gift of Chess, will be heading from NYC to Nigeria to work directly with Tunde to provide 500 chess sets to children within the slums of Lagos.
A US Chess Master and first generation college student, Tyrone is currently finishing his senior year at MIT where he is president of the chess club.
Chess has forever impacted Tyrone and Tunde's lives, and we look forward to impacting the lives of many more children through this partnership.
We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund the distribution of the initial 500 sets, w/ every additional dollar raised beyond our goal going directly toward the purchase of additional chess sets and access to chess technology for children within the Lagos community and beyond.
On my birthday, there could be no greater present than helping support our efforts to leverage chess to change lives.
As a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization, all donations made to The Gift of Chess through our partnership with GoFundMe Charities will be tax-deductible.
In the words of Tunde, "it is possible to do great things from a small place."
Thank you for your support in helping us transform lives through the power of chess - one child, one set, one game - at a time.
Donate a Set(s)
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Donate a Set(s)
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Overcoming lifeβs basic truth: Talent is universal, but opportunity is not.
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How it started vs How itβs going
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