Renaissance Knights

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	"WE TEACH CHILDREN TO THINK"
	Horace Mann, known as the "Father of American Education," once said, "Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of man…"
	Please contact Sheila Heiser at 773-844-0700 for more information or to start a chess program at your school or by email: s.heiser@renaissanceknights.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Heiser David Heiser is our Co-Founder and President. Mr. Heiser is a Police Officer with the Northbrook Police Department and a graduate of the Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University. He holds the title of Senior Tournament Director with the US Chess Federation. Sheila Heiser Sheila Heiser is our Co-Founded and Director of Programs. Mrs. Heiser has extensive experience working in the non-profit sector and holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from DePaul University. GrandMaster Sam Palatnik GM Palatnik learned chess while growing up in Ukraine where he became the Executive Director of the Ukrainian National Chess Academy in Kiev and Vice-President of the Ukraine Chess Federation. He is considered one of the world's best chess coaches and has coached two world champions, gold- and silver-medal winning teams from Ukraine, India, Argentina, and the United States and the 2007 Denker Tournament of High School Champions winner. With his close friend GM Lev Albert, they authored a 7-volume comprehensive chess course that our school curriculum is based on. Debra Denniston Debra Denniston holds a Law degree from DePaul University. _______________________________________ BOARD OF ADVISORS Barrett Moore Robert Krause	ABOUT US The Renaissance Knights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to improve the academic abilities, intellectual performance, and social skills of at-risk and disadvantaged children in Cook and collar counties of Illinois through in-school, after-school and community programs. We are dedicated to preparing local players of all ages to compete in national and international chess competitions by providing quality chess lessons, having a lending library of chess instructional books, and holding tournaments where players put to use the skills they have learned. Also, the foundation runs programs that bring together the chess community and the community at large to raise money to support local, national, and international charitable activities. Our programs unleashes a persons positive potential by utilizing chess as a tool to improve their academic abilities, intellectual performance, and social skills through chess-centered learning programs that develops critical thinking skills, build self-esteem and discipline, teaches good sportsmanship, fosters positive social skills and leadership, and empowers the children to succeed while having a great time in the process! We are living in a time of rapid cultural change in which young people are exposed to levels of personal and societal stress unknown even a generation ago. Schools often lack the capacity to deal with our increasingly multicultural population, and families are working harder than ever to simply survive. Young people lack attention from adults who can provide them with the guidance and support to live meaningful lives. By acknowledging the potential of our youth rather than treating them as "problems" to be solved, we have witnessed over and over again remarkable transformations of youth from positions of hopelessness, anger and self-destruction to positions of leadership, hope and empowerment. The Renaissance Knights Foundation was formed in March 2005 by David an Sheila Heiser in consultation with Grand Master Sam Palatnik, former Director of the Ukrainian National Chess Academy and Grandmaster in Residence Nashville Chess Center. Renaissance Knights has established a record of providing quality service to the Chicagoland through its free and low cost programs that have served the area's youth, of all races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds. As we move forward, we are expanding into providing free chess education programs at Title I schools during the regular classroom hours and after-school as well as parent fee based programs at other schools.
	CHESS IS A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST A BOARD GAME OF STRATEGY: More than any other activity, chess has the potential to transform a child. Chess is an effective educational tool that improves analytical and critical thinking skills which has a direct effect on academic achievement. It is the one great equalizer in education, in which anyone with determination to succeed can excel. Chess is extremely beneficial in raising children’s self-esteem, teaching determination, self-motivation, sportsmanship, and teaches students to think logically and take responsibility for their actions and consequences, provides rules, order and opportunities for intellectual and social growths. Chess is one of the few positive extra-curricular activities for students of all ages and from all backgrounds. Not all children can play sports but all children can play chess. RESEARCH STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF CHESS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND INTELLIGENCE: Students receiving chess instruction showed statistically significant gains in reading on a nationally standardized achievement test than did the control group. The gains were particularly impressive among children who started with relatively low average initial scores. In particular the Pennsylvania school board conducted a 5-year study on the effects of children learning chess. The study included other enrichment activities like Dungeons and Dragons, problem solving with computers, creative writing, and independent study. At the end of the study, students regularly engaged in chess classes showed a whopping 17.3% improvement on school test results. This compared with only 4.56% for the other activities. If you would like information on the research studies:
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