2009
January 2009
District 220 alum Nina Sethi requests help for medical treatment for Meher, a 4 year old girl living in Govindpuri slums. Chess Without Borders had donated chess supplies to start a chess club in the Govindpuri slum chess club. Meher is a gifted girl who lives in the area. She was severely burned as a child and is disfigured as well as unable to use her hands from contractures, which developed following her burns.
February 2009
Roslyn School Chess Tournament raised $1500 for Meher. Aleyra Medispa, Bertacchi Builders, Wool Street Grill, Checkmate Chess Supplies and Hough Street Chess Club donate $2000 for her treatment. Friends of chess donated additional money. Total amount raised is $3650 which was donated to Project Why.
Dr Khazanchi, a plastic surgeon in India hears about the fundraising work of chess clubs and he is inspired to volunteer his services too. He will operate on Meher to correct her deformities.
Drs Sethi, Mr Brian Gruber and Teacher Maggie Gruber travel to India to visit Meher and arrange details for her medical treatment. Brian Gruber will record a documentary of the unusual humanitarian efforts of the chess clubs. Several chess sets and clocks are also donated to the Govindpuri slum chess club.
BHS Chess Team wins 5th place at the Illinois State tournament.
Zack Kasiurak is the State Champion.
March 2009
2 computers and chess magazines donated to Metcalfe School Chess Coach Ms Cotton and a teacher.
Varun Puchta and Ryan Vranek qualify for National Bronze Presidents Service Awards for their work.