Long term Impact of Youth Social Entrepreneurship
“Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant epochs in the biography of souls.”
David Thomas
This is why volunteers radiate strength, kindness and excitement. Their character continues to develop into a personality where they attract interest and admiration from those around them often going beyond their potential! This is exemplified in 31 year old Christopher Majkowski a talented software product developer now working for S S and C Technology company in Chicago. Chris was 10 year old when he began volunteering for Chess Without Borders in Barrington. At the time in 2006 the grassroots student led chess program was struggling and the teenage founder, Rishi Sethi was looking for space to host a chess tournament for the growing population of chess players. Chris asked his father who worked at Alexian Brothers Hospital System at the time to allow them to hold a tournament at St Alexis Hospital. The tournament was a huge success and soon afterwards the following year the chess program became popular enough to attract Grandmaster Yury Shulman to the area. Chris also helped sponsor a chess mission trip to the Don Bosco Orphanage in Leon, Mexico in 2005. 10 Barrington High School chess students and 10 adults traveled to Mexico with Grandmaster Alex Onishuk to teach chess in an orphanage. Recently in April of this year Chris connected with Dr Kiran Frey and asked to join the team of volunteers at the Peter Wulff Center. The team was raising funds for the social justice program at St Annes Catholic Church in Barrington. Read about this event here:https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/srase20%40gmail.com?projector=1
Chris met the youth mentors and some of the adult volunteers who knew him 20 years ago. He donated generously and took on the initiative to ask his company to match his donation. 2 months later Chris decided to host a fundraiser in Chicago for the Peter Wulff Center to introduce his tech co-workers to the magical world of service learning. His valuable contributions have earned him a place on the Board of the Peter Wulff Center to help the nonprofit navigate new directions for advancing opportunities for the people they serve.
On May 1st 2025 Chris was awarded the prestigious Presidential Volunteer Service Award from the White House for " demonstrating values that make our nation strong and building a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America." His contributions impact the lives of people living on the margins of society as well as being an example for youth social volunteers here in Illinois.
Another outstanding volunteer alum is Jo Schmidt (seen in the photo above). He was a 9 year old volunteer in 2005 when he joined the team to serve at the Don Bosco Orphanage in Mexico. Jo was diligent and serious about his role as a volunteer and tried his best to keep up with the older boys in playing soccer with the orphans and the marathon chess matches with residents of Leon. A few years ago Jo was visiting Barrington from New York where he works at a Finance company when he came over to volunteer at a chess tournament at Grove Avenue School in Barrington. In spite of his busy schedule Jo also mentored Johnny Gaylor a high school student raising funds by hosting chess tournaments in his Long Island area in 2022.
There is a great sense of pride and joy among the adult volunteers who have worked with these students and watched them grow into exceptional human beings. But they are also ambassadors for representing values such as courage, perseverance, initiative, determination, confidence, energy and optimism of a community that raised them. Their impact has raised over $314,000 to benefit others living on the margins of society as well as contributed towards enriching their communities!
Please join Chris and his team as he hosts a fundraiser at 5 Iron Golf in Chicago to introduce service learning through the Peter Wulff Center. The event is on July 31st from 6 - 8 pm and the cost is $75 per ticket. All proceeds go towards buying new sewing machines at the Peter Wulff Center, bringing a Christmas lunch for 150 ex prisoners in Chicago and the youth social entrepreneurial programs.
These young adults such as Chris and Jo radiate confidence and kindness through their noble and unselfish actions and it is an uplifting experience to work with them.
For information visit: www.peterwulffcenter.org