A Star Social Entrepreneur

Chess Without Borders celebrates 20 years of raising youth social entrepreneurs. In this age of uncertainty and divisions these youths have crossed boundaries of race, socio-economic status, religion and ethnicity to reach out to people in need. As a result, they have opened up a boundless stream of knowledge through deep engagement in a variety of issue around the world. The program has raised almost $187,000 for local and global charities. With endless hours of service, they have developed many skills and over 100 youth have won Presidential Awards for Service through the White House. In order to accomplish this a wide network of youth, adults and community members work together creating a pathway for many others to follow. The program has won many awards for its unique combination of education with service and philanthropy. For Awards visit: http://shulmanchess.com/biography-of-chess-without-borders/

An example of one of our youth leaders is 17-year-old Ethan Gagliano, who has excelled in his quest to provide service to local and global communities since he was 7 years old! Ethan is a gifted chess player as well as a gifted social entrepreneur. He has evolved into these roles over the years as a team player and an important enterprising leader. Ethan demonstrates how social entrepreneurship develops multiple intelligences.

Ethan has gone beyond his potential to learn, inspire, lead and funds raise for local and global needs. In the process he has discovered, “I did not realize how our efforts can have such an impact”. Ethan became especially driven after he learned that one of the little girls Chess Without Borders educates is as old as him. “I felt a special connection to Meher, the little girl in India who was badly burned as a baby. I heard about her story when I was in 1st grade. We are the same age and I really wanted to help in some way.” As he became involved with this slum community in India he realized that many children his age have no access to technology. He pioneered unusual methods of fundraising for example, by asking people to pay $5 if he won his chess games at tournaments. He would pay them money if he lost but being a talented chess player he rarely lost so he has raised $500 towards this cause. He has donated proceeds from his gift money that he received from his First Communion in 2nd grade and winnings from other chess matches helping to establish a computer center in the Sarika Vihar slums of Delhi. This computer center brings computer education to 300 students in this slum.

Here is an excerpt of what this enterprise has meant for him:

“Being around mentors and watching their dedication to helping so many people was what motivated me to want to give back to those in need.”

Ethan incorporated the knowledge of being introduced to widespread humanitarian needs as he volunteered for causes such as child trafficking, devastation from flooding and tornadoes, life in the slums, deprivation for families of prisoners, civil wars in Sri Lanka, lack of education for children of migrant and agricultural workers. “The countries from where the people come do not matter to me so long as I can do something”, replied Ethan when I was explaining the ethnicity of the orphans from the civil war in Sri Lanka. He was shocked to learn about the child trafficking happening close to home. This was when Chess Without Borders hosted a fundraiser in collaboration with Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington, for a speaker who works to rescue victims of child trafficking.

Currently he continues to volunteer with Chess Without Borders at their various fundraisers and events. Ethan is driven as he seizes opportunities to serve like teaching chess to Seniors at homes such as Lake Barrington Woods and Sunrise of Barrington Senior Living. He is also a chess coach. It was a new role for him as a teacher but he worked hard at becoming a better communicator. He assisted with teaching the Sunny Hill chess club as a 4th grader in 2014. Now he is a confidant and responsible coach along with GM Shulman at chess clubs in Barrington.

In order for the program to advance the founder, Rishi Sethi, understood the importance of tournaments. District 220 schools have hosted chess tournaments over the years educating and supporting the growth of youth leaders through the program. Ethan is a tournament director helping run rated official USCF chess tournaments.

Academically, the students in the program have advanced in their ratings. Barrington High School chess team took 2nd place out of 128 teams participating at the Illinois State chess tournament 2 years ago. Ethan has been a proud team member arranging coaches for the team and the go to person for their needs. Ethan has won many awards for his work such as:

• In 2013, he was the recipient of the Everyday Young Hero Award presented by Youth Service of America for bringing together chess and philanthropy to help make a difference.

• In 2014, he was the recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his completion of over 100 hours of volunteer service work in his local community.

• In 2016, he was a recipient of the Points of Light Award (started by George H. W. Bush) for the group effort with Chess Without Borders and the work they do to raise funds. He was interviewed via telephone by one of the White House representatives to discuss his role in their effort.

• He is currently a four-time recipient of the Rising Star in Chess Award from the Illinois Chess Association which he first received in 7th grade for being a top junior chess player in Illinois.

• In 2018, he was the recipient of the Fast Company’s Innovation Award through the Margo Clark Innovation Program (under the Chess Without Borders umbrella) for creating his own company, Chess United, which provides chess education to others, both young and old, near and far.

. This past March, Ethan was invited to compete at the Illinois Youth Invitational Chess Championship, Denker Section, for the top 12 high school boys in Illinois. It was an intense two-day competition. Ethan came in 3rd place.

Ethan will be the youth leader for the Meher/ Maggie Gruber Computer Center Charity. This project is 10 years old and the act of maintaining this mission has had a profound impact on both the givers and receivers. Over the last 10 years youth volunteers have won awards, learned skills in fund raising technology and leadership. They worked together in teams with a wide range of people from all ages and backgrounds, acquired knowledge of local and global issues of our time and performed beyond their potential because as Ethan said, “We did it for others”. The funds allowed purchase of computers bringing technology skills to over 300 children living in the slums of Delhi, India. Meher, the little girl who was the victim of severe burns was educated through these funds. She is in 10th grade now like Ethan and is an outstanding student. Meher volunteers at the computer center on weekends bringing English skills to other children like herself.

Here is a video of the Maggie Gruber Computer Center in Delhi, India.

Mentors/teachers/administrators can make a big impact in the children's lives they touch.

For any questions or volunteering opportunities please email:chesswob@gmail.com