Founded in 2005 by David and Sheila Heiser in consultation with Grand Master Sam Palatnik, former Director of the Ukrainian National Chess Academy, Renaissance Knights has brought the educational benefits of chess to Chicago's youth during the critical unsupervised out of school hours.
Since the beginning Renaissance Knights established a record of providing quality service to the Chicago and the midwest by taking a grass roots approach working with schools, community center, faith-based organizations, colleges and units of governement. Through our free and low cost programs we have served the area's youth, of all races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds through in the classroom and out of school time recreational and enrichment activities, including programs in some of to Chicago's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.
The need is great. An estimated 70,000 kids citywide spend between 20-25 hours a week alone after school – with the most dangerous hours between 3 pm and 6 pm. These unsupervised young people are much more likely to be the victims of crime or become involved in risky behaviors. See what we have accomplaished...
Renaissance Knights mission is to utilize the many educational benefits of chess to develop skills necessary for success in school and life among inner-city public school children and to keep our youth safe and active by facilitating supervised enrichment activities in the dangerous after school hours.