- Annually serve over 5,000 children and young adults at schools, tournaments, & events.
- Annual provided Scholarships to hundreds of children to attend tournaments and events.
- Annually organize free tournaments for Chicago Public School Children.
- Funded/Subsidized over 26 Chicago Public Schools & Community chess clubs.
- Donated/distributed over 1,200 chess sets to students, schools, & organizations such as, Spina Bifida Foundation, Chicago Lights Tutoring, West Side Baptist Community Center, Peace Corner Youth Center, Black Star & South Shore International HS. 2006 – Present
- Shipped 310 chess sets overseas to USA military members serving in the Middle East – sponsored a chess tournament by providing & shipping, chess sets, clocks, notation sheets, pencils, WinTD, How to Play Chess by USCF, & the US Chess Federation Tournament Rules book
- Recipient of the 2016 Special Service Award by the US Chess Federation
- Sponsored/organized 8th All-Girls National Championship in 2011 at the Double Tree Hotel Chicago in partnership w/Kasparov Chess Foundation, provided a $100,000 scholarship, University of Dallas. Since then, we have organized this annual championship for girls under 18 in Chicago. Each year we have broken the previous year’s record attendance making this the largest and most prestigious women only tournament in America. Each year Renaissance Knights provides free entry & US Chess memberships to local area girls who would not otherwise have the opportunity to play in the event.
- Sponsored/organizes Greater Chicago Chess Championships – sponsored by SBB Research Group, Chicago’s Official K-12 Championship & part of a Regional Scholastic Series of tournaments in partnership with Kasparov Chess Foundation who runs Greater New York Chess Championships – longest running scholastic tournament over 20 years. 2010 – Present. Each year Renaissance Knights provides free entry & US Chess memberships to hundreds of local children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to play in the event.
- Sponsored/organized Cops & Kids Chess Tournament, in partnership with Chicago Police Department & Alderman Moreno, which aims to foster positive community relations by bring the community and police together for a fun day of chess. 2015 & 2016.
- Sponsors/organized Chicago Open for Boys & Girls Tournament, w/Chicago Toy & Game Fair, Navy Pier, in 2012, 2013 & 2014
- Sponsored Chicago Chess Festival, US Chess Federation Rated tournament, at Rickover Naval Academy, over 200 students, entry fee was of nonperishable food (raised 375 pounds) for Greater Chicago Food Depository, Oct. 13, 2012,.
- Sponsored/organized in partnership with US Chess Federation & Alderman Moreno a special advance screening of Brooklyn Castle at the Chopin Theater. Screening was followed by a question & answer period w/David Heiser – President Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, Bill Hall – Executive Director US Chess Federation, & Robert McLellan – Executive Producer Brooklyn Castle. Oct. 2 , 2012
- Organized chess at the showing of ‘Brooklyn Castle’ Gene Siskel Theater. Chicago. Sept. 2012
- Chicago City Council passed a resolution in support of our Chess in Classroom Program that was introduced by Alderman Joe Moreno. Sept. 2012
- Sponsored Mayor Daley’s Holiday Chess Championship & ‘Chess Pavilion’ featuring free chess w/prizes at Mayor Daley’s Holiday Sports Festival McCormick Place in partnership with Mayor Daley’s Office of Special Events. 2006 – 2010
- Sponsored Rowe School Family Festival where US Chess Federation President Ruth Haring gave a presentation w/questions & answers. April 2012
- Organized chess lessons at the play “Fish Man” at the Goodman Theater. April 2012
- Sponsors/organizes the monthly Knights Quest tournaments, the Midwest’s first scholastic class & longest running monthly tournaments with a regular participation of over 100 players. 2006 – Present.
- Sponsored/organized over 300 chess tournaments.
- Partnered with Chicago Public Schools since 2006. Organizes the annual CPS K-8 Playoffs & Championship tournaments. 2006 – present, and the CPS High School Championship 2012 – present. Assisted with the restructuring CPS Chess Programs in 2007 and the transition from the Sports Department to Academic Competition. Founder David Heiser serves as the CPS Chess Consultant.
- Our chess instructor Jeff Caveney coached Northside College Prep 2010-2012, Chicago Public Schools championship team in 2012
- Sponsored/organized free city wide tournament at Clemete HS, Chicago. Jan. 21, 2012
- State Representative Mrs. Constance Howard presented trophies & awards at Chicago Public Schools championship 2008
- Organized in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, Teachers Workshop “Incorporating Chess into the Classroom” featuring Senior FIDE Trainer Michael Khodarkovsky, President of Kasparov Chess Foundation & guest speaker Chicago Public Schools Teacher Mrs. Catherine Lassisi. May 2009
- Organized with Chicago Public Schools Sports Department, ‘CPS Coaches Workshop’, featuring Senior FIDE Trainer Michael Khodarkovsky, President of Kasparov Chess Foundation. May 2009
- Founder David Heiser served as Chicago Public Schools Principal of the Day (Henry Clay 2008) (Galileo Academy 2009) (Murphy 2010) Chicago
- Sponsors RKnights Chess Team, Chicago Industrial Chess League. 2009 – Present
- Sponsored/organized a free ‘Chess Pavilion’ & ‘Master Challenge’ w/FM Zin w/prizes, Taste of Chicago. 2006 – 2010
- Sponsored/organized a ‘Triple Simultaneous Exhibition’ featuring GM Sam Palatnik, IM Stan Smiatankin, & a National Master at Taste of Chicago, 2006
- Sponsored/organized ‘Chess Pavilion’ African Festival/Arts, Hyde Park, Chicago. Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, 2008
- Sponsors/organizes Indian Trail Library Chess Championship. Wheeling. 2008 – Present
- Sponsors/organizes ‘Chess in the Classroom’ for Galileo Academy. 2008 – 2010.
- Subsidized/organized with Chicago Public Schools Sports Department, ‘Free Summer Chess Camps’ – Stewart School, Canty School, & Coles Academy. Summer 2008
- Donated prizes/organized ‘Galileo Classroom Awards’ for chess in the class assignments. Dec. 2008 – 2009
- Funded/organized the Ukrainian Chess Federation, Vice President Timosheko’s visit to Galileo Academy. January 2009
- Sponsored/organized ‘Chess Pavilion’ at Teen Test Day, (2009) South Shore Cultural Center, (2010) University of Illinois, Chicago.
- Sponsored with Bank of America a free ‘Chess Pavilion’ & ‘Master Challenge’ with FM Zin w/prizes, Six Corners Cornucopia. Sept. 19, 2009. Chicago
- RKNIGHTS Robert Krause coached Stevenson High School, State HS Champions 2007- 2008
- Subsidized/organized with Chicago Public Schools Activities Department, Irving Park Magnet Cluster Chess Championship at Wright College. 2007 – 2008 Chicago
- Sponsored/organized ‘Chess Pavilion’ at Kennedy King College Educational Festival, Aug. 23, 2008, South Chicago
- Sponsored/organized w/trophies & awards, free chess tournaments for Chicago Public School Students, 2008 (Henry Clay School) & 2007, 2008, 2009 (Murphy School).
- Sponsored/organized all night chess activities & tournament w/prizes at Looptopia, America’s first all night festival. Chicago’s Cultural Center. 2007
- Sponsored/organized a chess day, Boys & Girls Club of America at Logan Square. Chicago
- Funded Library Programs – Chicago, Wauconda, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Wheeling & Palatine 2006 – 2014
- Subsidized two ‘Simultaneous Exhibitions’, FM Zin, NM Wolf, Prospect Heights Library
- Sponsored free ‘Monthly Chess Lessons’ (Beginners/ Intermediate) (Adults & Youth), Renaissance Hotel. 2007
- Sponsored/organized two ‘human chess matches’, IM Stan Smiatankin played both matches, one against the Oak Park & the Forest Park Mayors, plus chess activities w/prizes. Harry Potter Book Release Festival. Oak Park Cultural Center.
- Subsidized/organized a ‘Free All Day Chess’ w/prizes & National Master, Art of Play. Chicago’s Cultural Center
- Subsidized/organized a ‘Free Lunch Time Chess Play’ w/prizes & a National Master (June/July/August/September) for the Art of Play. Chicago’s Cultural Center
- Utilized chess as fundraising events for victims of: ‘Emergency Relief Simultaneous Exhibitions’, Hurricane Katrina, Malaysia Tsunami, “Starving in Niger” I & II, w/GM Yuri Shulman, IM Stan Smiatankin, & IM Angelo Young
- Sponsored/organized free chess at National Night Out. Northbrook
- Sponsored/organized a ‘Free Simultaneous Exhibitions’ IM Stan Smiatankin. Northbrook Jr. HS. Northbrook
- Sponsored ‘Free Chess Workshop‘ IM Stan Smiatankin. w/prizes, food, drinks. Northbrook
- Sponsored/organized a chess day at Boys & Girls Club of America. Elgin/Waukegan
- Sponsored/organized w/prizes ‘Free All Day Chess Festival’, & ‘Simultaneous Exhibition‘ featuring IM Angelo Young. Renaissance Hotel. Northbrook.
- Funded/organized ‘Salute to Tom Fineburg’ presented w/plaques USCF. South Chicago
- Subsidized/organized a Holiday Chess Tournament at Salvation Army – Elgin, Dec. 2005
- Utilized chess as a fundraising event, ‘Simultaneous Exhibitions’ w/GM Nikola Mitkov, for purchasing chess sets for Wauconda Schools, 2005
- Sponsored/organized with Chicago land Community Chess Club, a day of chess & fun, featuring chess lessons with IM Stan Smiatankin, prizes, food, drinks, swimming & boat rides, at the Harbor Club on Bangs Lake, Wauconda, 2005
Chess Foundation
