BC Girls Chess Foundation

Ashley CHESS GIRL’s big announcement!

Ashley Tapp, now 13, the young Canadian chess girl who fundraised her way to her first world youth chess tournament in Slovenia representing Canada, Nov 2012 ; who stole the hearts of not only Canadians, but people worldwide.

This year, Ashley’s efforts have remained the same to raise funds for her World Qualifier 2013 playing at festivals and promoting chess and for girls – only this time with a difference – ‘she is no longer alone’. 

Chess friend Jill Ding (17) from Victoria has teamed up with Ashley with the same goals and ambitions to inspire more girls to play. Ashley from Gordon school in Vancouver, and Jill Ding of St Michael’s University School of Victoria are ‘the perfect team’ – both from different school systems they represent all girls, and equally hold the same passions for their sport – ‘chess,’ and have set high goals for their future. Interestingly, both girls are honor students in math and science. 

Technology pushes society forward. In reality, there are only few female executives at the corporate level at the IT industry, where there is a need for more. 

We would like to answer to that call to have more girls play chess. Playing chess is more than an elite game; it is supposed to be accessible to all kids who want to play. For us, playing chess is a social event, a place to make friendships, to help each other with logic of thinking; learning to take responsibility for our moves/ actions and to support each other with consequences. It also allows us to prepare for competition; very important given today’s expectations. 

Chess complements academic study like math and the sciences, and it is our motivation to initiate more girls to excel in these areas, and eventually this could move towards changing the corporate scenario with more girls taking the lead. 

Ashley was proud to announce the successful incorporation of the BC GIRLS CHESS FOUNDATION at an event this weekend during a Chess and Martial Arts promotion she created at the Dojang Martial Arts School in Vancouver. 

We are working very hard toward this goal, and hope more people will join us too – in creating a social movement – for more girls to play chess and on the exposure of Chess as the ultimate mind body sport. 

Ashley and Jill in this quest to support themselves and more girls created a business called ‘CHESS GIRL – Smart moves’ their first product a unique ear hugger that girls and women love. It is designed to support charities where they received any number at no cost and make money at their events. The Epilepsy Society of BC are already signing up for Sept for Purple Day.

Eventually we hope that CHESS GIRL Smart moves can support the BC GIRLS CHESS FOUNDATION. www.Chess-Girl.com