Friday, July 29, 2011

FOX news: Changing lives, one girl at a time


Chess players overcome odds to earn scholarships
Last Update: 7/29 10:57 pm

More emotional and heart warming video here.

It's a story of two young ladies who beat some really tough odds just to get to the 8th Annual Susan Polgar Girls' Invitational Chess Tournament at Texas Tech this week.

After the tally of all the matches played by entering 11th and 12th graders participating, both Vanita Young from Philadelphia and Dyhemia Young from Los Angeles win scholarships to become Red Raiders in the Fall of 2013.

They say an outpouring of generosity got them to the tournament and is helping them secure their educational future.

Vanita Young said tearfully, "Thank you. You've truly turned my life around. This is a learning experience for me. Chess gets you far in life, and you've helped give me a scholarship so I don't have to worry anymore. Just thank you."

Dyhemia Young told FOX 34 "I thank them and I'm appreciative of them for even believing in me and not giving up. I know it was hard for them to find me and they could have picked someone else to come here but they didn't stop. So thank you."

The Susan Polgar Foundation has established a Cinderella Fund to help teens like Vanita and Dyhemia.

Click the link above for more information.

Source: http://www.myfoxlubbock.com