For Universal Children's Day (November 20th, 2017), kids from Chess for a Cause had a unique way to share their love for the community. These kids from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton and Johns Creek got together at the Crabapple Senior Center, Alpharetta, to teach and play chess with seniors.
To celebrate this year's Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF has invited children from around the world taking over key roles in media, politics, business, sport, and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted on 20th November. UN Sustainable Development Goal three states: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. However, mental health for seniors is one of the poorly resourced global issues. Today, one-third of senior deaths in the United States are attributed to dementia, and approximately $250 billion is spent annually on healthcare costs. Chess-for-a-Cause kids decided to take on the responsibility of providing mental health awareness and balance brain exercises to help seniors benefit mentally and emotionally.
I was very satisfied with the turn-out of kids and seniors at today's event. One of the challenges our society faces comes from nuclear households, with kids getting little or no exposure to grandparents in their formative years. Chess for a Cause sessions provides us invaluable experiences, replacing apathy with the knowledge, sensitivity and a perspective on the age-related challenges among seniors.
Today’s session was extra special, because of several reasons. Firstly it was the first day of Thanks Giving break and lot of kids joined us voluntarily. Secondly, as part Family Volunteering week, several friends and family members also joined chess for a cause group to help with the event. Last but not the least, Mr. Matt Kunz, Councilman Milton, GA also joined the kids, encouraging and inspiring them with his interest in the speed chess and Chess for a Cause.