The National Capital Area Optimist Club held their annual awards luncheon this past weekend, and provided much-appreciated funds for the Chess Center to continue its efforts to provide free and low-cost activities for local young people. The club’s mission is to improve the community by supporting youth-based organizations.
The Center was one of many local organizations to receive Optimist support for their programs. The groups that teach kids to play golf, wrestle, and play other games spoke about using their activities as a tool to teach students responsibility, resilience, and respect for themselves and others.
The Center agrees with them, and notes that in addition to the attributes other groups describe, chess helps young people plan ahead, focus, and solve problems. Other activities do that, too, but chess is accessible to everyone, costs less than nearly any of the other activities mentioned, and results in many fewer physical injuries. We are pleased to have been recognized by the Optimists for the past 23 years.