ike a good game of chess, philanthropy students at West Chester University (WCU) recommended a strategic move for $1,000 of Benjamin Franklin Trust money after evaluating 25 grant finalists for the Chester County Community Foundation, and winner was the West Chester Public Library’s after-school chess program.

And while young chess students will get more materials to learn and play with, the WCU students will take away valuable philanthropic lessons from the experience in their Honors Stewardship and Civics Engagement Class, taught by CCCF Grants Committee member Gerardina Martin. The class included Morgan McMurtrie, Kelsiann Acer, Hanna Hattier and Carrie Morton.

The WCU students determined the chess program was a perfect fit for funds from the Benjamin Franklin Trust, which was established by the Philadelphia icon through 1,000 pounds of silver left to the city in 1790 via his will. Franklin was an avid chess player and reader; he wrote an essay on “The Morals of Chess,” and, in addition to being an accomplished autobiographer, he founded The Library Company of Philadelphia.

“The Chester County Community Foundation is proud of these students’ commitment to philanthropy in a day and age when giving back is not focused on by the youth,” the organization stated.