Mark Kirsch LLC's Charity

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County mean a great deal to me.

I began volunteering at the Club in 2023, teaching chess as part of the Chess for Success program. When I started, the chess sessions had very little structure, so I created an achievement program that gives students the opportunity to earn four progressively more challenging certificates:

KNIGHT → ROOK → QUEEN → KING

At the KNIGHT level, students learn the fundamentals of chess: the pieces, their values, movement and capture, setting up the board, check, checkmate and draw. Just as importantly, they learn sportsmanship—ending every game with "Good game" and a handshake, win, lose or draw.

At the highest level, KING, students must demonstrate advanced knowledge, teach a lesson to the class, and beat or draw one of the instructors.

As of Spring 2026, we have awarded 96 certificates: 58 Knight, 21 Rook, 10 Queen and 7 King.

Each achievement is celebrated. Students receive a certificate with a raised gold border, a handwritten congratulatory letter and a small reward. I even had an embosser created with the Chess for Success motto:

SKILL • CONFIDENCE • VICTORY

In addition, at the QUEEN level, the volunteers and I give each student a small travel chess set. At the KING level, we give them an introductory chess book and a chess strategy book.

Watching the children proudly take their certificates home to show their families has been incredibly rewarding.

Many of the children arrived knowing little or nothing about chess, and today they are teaching this great game to their friends and families.

Please enjoy some pictures from the Chess for Success Program below.

I wish you could see their smiles in person.

- Mark