Your caring donation to Chess Institute of Canada will give kids the tools to thrive during challenging times
Chess Institute’s founder, Ted Winick, called our chess instruction programs “magic”, and for good reason. While teaching chess to young children, Ted noticed they used their chess skills in everyday life, positively approaching life’s challenges. And as they became better chess players, their self-esteem and confidence increased.
In 2006, Ted created Chess Institute of Canada to proactively use chess as a life-changing tool to help people:
- Develop focus to achieve their goals
- Think before acting and make good decisions
- Solve problems using logic
- Learning from mistakes
- Win and lose with dignity
Until March 2020, Chess Institute worked our chess magic in more than 100 Toronto-area schools, in after-school clubs, in-class curriculum courses, tournaments and camps – strategically using chess to teach essential life skills to thousands of students.
When COVID-19 made in-person teaching impossible, we created online programs and now reach students from across Canada. Our fun and enlightening programs provide a welcome break to isolation-weary kids, adding structure to their day and brightening their outlook. We also give our students hope that positive change can and will happen. And we give them tools they can use to safely play chess online with friends and family in their own time!
We look forward to return to teaching in schools in September 2021, and continuing to reach out to students across Canada in our online programs as well. We are also expanding our programs to bring chess to life for teens and adults.
Please help us to continue our life-changing work!
COVID-19 provided us with many unplanned challenges. Your thoughtful donation will help us cover costs of expanding our online and future in-person program delivery so we can bring our transformative programs to more people from coast to coast! This includes hiring more instructors from across the country. You’ll also help us to further improve upon our Chess to Life™ curriculum by adapting contemporary knowledge gleaned from chess education research.
Please help us bring the magic of chess to people so they can
learn how use chess-related skills to conquer life’s daily challenges. Thank
you so much for your support!
Dear Ted,
I graduated from Hillcrest School about 6 years ago. While I was there, I was a member of your school chess club and a participant in your chess in the classroom programs. I already knew how to play the game and enjoyed it, but you made me think differently about it. You emphasized critical thinking and careful analysis, not just in chess, but in all things. “Touch move” was your signal to weigh my options, and a way to try to visualize the game.
You used to say that chess was like life, with a beginning, middle and endgame. I’m still near the beginning, and I’m currently starting my first year at McGill University. I’m not sure what I want to do with my life quite yet, but I think your lessons in chess have helped me make some decent moves. Thanks for everything!
Alex
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