Our Impact
Through decades of dedication, the Peaceful Warrior Chess Foundation has reached thousands of children across the country, unlocking their potential through the discipline, focus, and strategy of chess.
For many at-risk youth, a chessboard becomes more than just a game—it’s a gateway to self-discipline, patience, and possibility. Our programs have helped students reframe how they handle setbacks, solve problems, and connect with mentors who believe in them. From school success to personal confidence, Peaceful Warrior has opened new doors.
Scroll down to read how our students and families have been impacted in their own words.
Real Stories. Real Growth.
These stories reflect how learning chess through Peaceful Warrior has helped students and families build confidence, focus, and long-term success.
A Classroom That Changed Everything
For years, Joel struggled in school. Since preschool, he’d been labeled a “problem child” due to his high energy and difficulty sitting still. It was heartbreaking to see him lose confidence.
But after just one week in your classroom, everything changed. Joel began coming home happy, excited to learn, and eager to return to school each morning.
He talks about you constantly—your class cheer, your encouraging handshake, and the way you make him feel important. He now proudly works on his book reports and wants to share his progress with everyone.
For the first time in his school life, he feels like he belongs. As his parents, we are deeply moved and grateful for the joy and purpose you’ve sparked in him.
Patricia Benite, Parent of Joel
“For the first time in his school life, our son is excited to learn—and feels like he belongs.”
Joel’s Parent, Patricia Benite
Strategy Beyond the Board
Solving problems using logic and strategy is a skill I’ve carried with me throughout life. Chess helped develop that mindset early on—teaching me to anticipate moves, weigh outcomes, and stay calm under pressure. I loved analyzing the board, figuring out the most probable moves my opponent might make, and crafting my best response.
In grammar school, I competed in local tournaments and placed second several times in the intermediate division—even going undefeated on some of those days. I still smile when I think about my old trophy, even though it went missing after coming apart... probably during one of those childhood moves.
I continued playing chess at Westinghouse Career Academy in Chicago during my freshman year. The competitive nature of the game really pulled me in. More than that, it trained my mind to approach tough challenges methodically—especially standardized exams.
Today, I’m a State Trooper with the Illinois State Police, preparing for the sergeant exam. And you better believe I’ll be applying the same mental discipline I gained from chess. It’s a game that gave me far more than trophies—it gave me a foundation for success.
“Chess trained my mind to approach challenges methodically—on and off the board.”
Mark Reynolds, Illinois State Trooper
From Aldi Bag to National Ranking: How Chess Changed His Life
In the fall of 1995, an 11-year-old boy walked to his grandmother’s house carrying little more than a plastic bag of clothes and a lot of anger. After being separated from his mother and transferred mid-year to Duke Ellington Elementary, he struggled to find his footing—until a classroom lesson on the Civil War introduced him to Mr. Mac, a visiting educator and chess coach.
What began as weekly lessons quickly became early-morning practices. He never missed a single one. Chess offered him structure, purpose, and a way to channel his thoughts. He discovered he was good at it—really good—and for the first time, he felt connected, confident, and in control.
He rose to become a city champion, earned a national ranking, and when a clerical error nearly placed him in a struggling high school, it was his chess community that helped him transfer to a competitive program—altering the course of his life.
Today, he holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA in Project Management.
“I tell anyone who will listen that chess saved my life. It taught me how to think, how to stay patient, and how to lead.”
Douglas Morrow, Former Peaceful Warrior
Ready to Make a Difference?
Your gift provides boards, books, and mentorship to the next generation.
Donate Today