Message from CCF Board President

Greetings and welcome to the captivating world of youth chess! My name is Mike Hayes and I have the privilege of serving as the third president of the Chicago Chess Foundation's Board of Directors, a role I assumed in 2020. It's an honor to follow in the footsteps of two esteemed past Presidents—Ben Wong and Mike Bologna—who remain active members of our Board.

Let me take a moment to tell you why I chose to serve with CCF. As a born-and-bred Chicagoan, I'm deeply committed to our great city. My wife Kathleen and I call downtown Chicago home. After graduating from Northwestern, I embarked on a 40-year career as a consulting actuary, working with major firms in the Human Resources field. Upon retiring, I eagerly joined the CCF Board in 2017. Additionally, I'm privileged to serve on the board of Sinai Chicago, overseeing Mt. Sinai and Holy Cross Hospitals, where I chair the Board’s HR Committee. I feel it is my duty to serve the Chicago community and, if you'll allow me, humbly take pride in my volunteering (and graciously thank those who have impacted me in return).

My love for chess has been a lifelong affair, but it truly flourished when my son emerged as a skilled scholastic player—surpassing his old man's skills by the age of 9! As I encouraged his pursuit of chess, I was disappointed to learn that his school district lacked a chess program. The advice from neighboring coaches was unanimous: "Start one yourself." So, for the next five years, I learned first-hand the joys and challenges of being a chess coach. What inspired me was seeing the undeniable benefits of children playing chess: improved focus, analytical skills, learning to compete, and so much more. Years later, this drove me to seek out CCF, a great organization of dedicated people bringing these exact benefits to communities who may not have access to this great game. To this day, every time I walk into a school cafeteria or library packed with young players concentrating silently, I am re-energized for the mission we serve of empowering youth to find the best moves.
As you explore our website, you'll discover a wealth of opportunities we offer, including after-school programs, year-round tournaments, enriching summer camps, and various chess-related activities—all provided free of charge. As we mark our milestone 10th anniversary this year, we're eager to expand our reach and introduce the joys of chess to even more young minds.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors, tenacious volunteers, and our dedicated staff—Matt Kearney and Luke Atkinson—who work tirelessly to bring our vision to life. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned supporter, I invite you to explore our programs and find your own way to contribute to our cause. Feel free to reach out to us anytime—we're here to help.

So, let's continue to embrace the beauty of chess and the countless benefits it offers. Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey.

Mike Hayes

Board President, Chicago Chess Foundation