Icon Chess Foundation

Causes: Children & Youth, Education, Primary & Elementary Schools, Recreation & Sports, Sports, Youth Development

Mission: Icon Chess Foundation provides an innovative chess program specifically designed to help disadvantaged youth improve academic performance and self-esteem. Established by Malik Johnson, Icon Chess Foundation uses an innovative curriculum where students learn chess and apply chess concepts to the development of math, reading and critical thinking skills.Malik learned chess in junior high when a serious heart condition forced him to eliminate all athletic activity. After graduating from high school, Malik decided to help disadvantaged youth by teaching chess. In college, Malik volunteered as a chess instructor at Children's Hospital, Ross Yaggy Elementary, and with a program run through Chess University and DC Parks and Recreation. Youth who became involved with these programs demonstrated noticeable improvements in school performance or mood reflected in higher academic test scores or comments by teachers and parents.Inspired by his own experience, and Chess-in-the-School(New York, Malik researches chess programs in the District but found they did not effectively reach disadvantaged kids or intergrade an academic curriculum. Malik established Icon Chess Foundation to give-at-risk youth a positive alternative to drugs, gangs, violence, and teenage pregancy. Malik created a curriculm developing an innovative program that includes a two-hour chess class, educational field trips, guest speakers, chess tournaments, and scholastic scholarships to winners of tournaments and top placing female participants.The primary goals of Icon Chess Foundation are to provide disadvantage youth with a positive alternative to the streets and strengthen academic performance.Through chess,at-risk youth sharpen logical thinking,creativity,and life skills;skills that can be applied to everyday life and decision-making.Icon Chess Foundation hopes to demonstrate how chess can help at-risk youth improve grades,enhance problem solving skills,develop positive relationships,and strengthen self-confidence. Copywrite C 2000